Employing graphene acoustoelectric switch by dual surface acoustic wave transducers

Abstract

We implement a logic switch by using a graphene acoustoelectric transducer at room temperature. We operate two pairs of inter-digital transducers (IDTs) to launch surface acoustic waves (SAWs) on a LiNbO₃ substrate and utilize graphene as a channel material to sustain acoustoelectric current I_ae induced by SAWs. By cooperatively tuning the input power on the IDTs, we can manipulate the propagation direction of I_ae such that the measured I_ae can be deliberately controlled to be positive, negative, or even zero. We define the zero-crossing I_ae as $I_{ae}^{off}$, and then demonstrate that I_ae can be switched with a ratio $I_{ae}^{on}/I_{ae}^{off}~{10}^4$ at a rate up to few tens kHz. Our device with an accessible operation scheme provides a means to convert incoming acoustic waves modulated by digitized data sequence onto electric signals with frequency band suitable for digital audio modulation. Consequently, it could potentially open a route for developing graphene-based logic devices in large-scale integration electronics.