Nonlinear Microwave Interactions with Voltage-Gated Graphene Devices

Abstract

In this dissertation, methods of fabrication and testing micro- and nano-scaled thermoelectric microwave power detectors based on graphene are explored. Initial detectors show sensitivities of 0.87 mV/mW and each chapter herein describes the iterations and improvements made to the devices. In the end, detectors have shown sensitivities of up to 60.25 mV/mW when accounting for the reflection coefficient of the device, over a 690% increase in sensitivity. Commercially-available detectors that feature zero DC power consumption and operate over similar frequency ranges typically over a power detection sensitivity of 500 mV/mW. However, state-of-the-art thermoelectric detectors based on CMOS and MEMS technologies over power detection sensitivities that are typically lower than 0.4 mV/mW. Unoptimized graphene based detectors have been shown to outperform CMOS and MEMS detectors. An outlook is provided on further optimizations that can be made to the devices.