The effect of bilayer regions on the response of epitaxial graphene devices to environmental gating

The effect of a bilayer area on the electronic response to environmental gating of a monolayer graphene Hall bar device is investigated using room temperature magnetotransport and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy measurements in a controlled environment. The device is tuned through the charge neutrality point with n–p–n-junctions formed. Scanning Kelvin probe measurements show that the work function of the monolayer graphene decreases more than that of the bilayer area however magnetotransport measurements show a larger change in carrier concentration for bilayer graphene with environmental gating. Interface scattering at the boundary between the monolayer and bilayer regions also affects device response with field-dependent suppression of the conductivity observed near the charge neutrality point. Simultaneous electronic and environmental scanning Kelvin probe measurements are used to build nano-scale maps of the work function of the device surface revealing the areas of greatest work function change with environmental gating.