Vibrational Properties of Defected Graphene Nanoribbon

PROJECT 1
[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

Introduction
Graphene which a novel two dimensional material structured in the shape of a honeycomb is
normally formed by one layer of sp2 hybrid orbital atoms of carbon. It has a thickness of about
0.335 nm which corresponds to the thickness of a single atom of carbon. Graphene is able to
form one dimensional nanotubes, a three dimensional graphite as well as a zero dimensional
fullerene through stacking, wrapping among others. As a result of the unique features, graphene
has been established to be of excellent chemical as well as physical features among them thermal
conductivity, superior stiffness as well as strength, ultrahigh specific surface area, high mobility
of electrons among others [1]. Besides, it has unique quantum tunneling impacts as well as semi-
integer Hall effect. Such features make graphene one of the most popular if not the only popular
low dimensional functional material of carbon followed by carbon nanotubes and fullerene
In as much as graphene demonstrates excelling features it is unable to be applied in
semiconductor IC technology of fabrication due to the zero bandgap features. Different
techniques have been deployed in tuning a definite bandgap in the structure of graphene. It is
commonly understood that confinement of the function of electronic wave in a quasi-ID system
may were to open the bandgap that is within graphene. In cases where graphene has been
patterned into a width that is finite, the effect of quantum confinement results in the opening of
the bandgap. Hence, graphene nanoribbon may be used for the purpose of fabrication of various
nonelectric devices.
Owing to the numerous unique features of the substance as with regard the electrical and
chemical features, graphene has been found to be applicable in numerous fields including
thermal applications, micro-nano devices as well as reinforcing substances. Still, graphene may

as well be used in bio sensing for example deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing devices, detection
of glucose as well as fanon resonances [2]. Besides, it is of very high potential in the research
areas for new energy including super capacitors, solar cells as well as lithium-ion batteries.
Hence, there is need of a precise conception on the different (types of) defected graphene and
among them the grain boundary (which is one of the defected graphene) will be used as an
example to show the vibrational properties of defected graphene [3].
Research Problem
The study aims to investigate the vibrational properties of defected graphene nanoribbon
The objective includes:
 Conducting research on the various defects of graphene
 Investigating the features of graphene
 Evaluating the effects of defects on properties of graphene
 Evaluate the feature of defected graphene
Graphene is one of the materials that are widely used in various industrial processes owing to the
unique and excellent physical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, the presence of defects has
significantly impacted on the properties both on the negative and positive ways. An
understanding of the effects on defects on vibration properties of graphene is integral in
enhancing an understanding of such defects as well as coming up with strategies aimed at
improving the performance if not eliminating the defects. A study into this topic would see
enhanced industrial processes that required graphene as well as offer alternatives to the challenge
of the defects.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Defect types in Graphene
Some of the earlier studies have analyzed the structural defects in carbon as well as carbon
nanotubes hence an imagination that graphene should as well be defective at the level of an atom
should not pose as a challenge. The kinds of structural defects that are present in graphene
cannot be easily accurately and quantitatively identified. Nevertheless, the ability to resolve each
atom that is found in the graphene lattice has been achieved through the use of high resolution
new transmission electron microscope and can do so even in the case of suspended single layer
graphene. Besides, atomic free microscope as well as the scanning electron microscope is
extensively used as experimental devices that used in the characterization of the nano materials.
Hence, direct imaging of the theoretical prediction configurations is highly possible [4].
The defects in graphene may be generally grouped into two: intrinsic defects that include carbon
atoms in non-sp2 orbital hybrid in graphene. Such defects are often as a result of the presence of
non-hexagonal rings enclosed by hexagonal rings. Extrinsic defects form the second group of
graphene defects. In these defects, the crystalline order is altered with the atoms of non-carbon
that are present in the graphene.
Besides, there is enough reason to assume that the defects may not often be stationary and
random following the previous studies that have been conducted on the bulk crystal defects
migrations, specifically the study of carbon nanotubes remodelling under disturbance of external
energy, moving with a specific mobility controlled by the temperature as well as activation
barrier.