Origin of Spatial Charge Inhomogeneity in Graphene

Understand

In an ideal graphene sheet charge carriers behave as two-dimensional (2D) Dirac fermions governed by the quantum mechanics of massless relativistic particles.

• This has been confirmed by the discovery of a half-integer quantum Hall effect in graphene flakes placed on a SiO2 substrate.
• The Dirac fermions in graphene, however, are subject to microscopic perturbations that include topographic corrugations and electron density inhomogeneities (i.e.
• charge puddles).