Patent ID: 8105928

Claim:
A method of implementing bandgap tuning of a graphene-based switching device, the method comprising: subjecting a bi-layer graphene to an electric field while simultaneously subjecting the bi-layer graphene to an applied strain that reduces an interlayer spacing between the bi-layer graphene, thereby creating a bandgap in the bi-layer graphene; creating the electric filed by applying a voltage across a dielectric material in contact with the bi-layer graphene, the dielectric material having ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties such that the dielectric material expands to create the applied strain on the bi-layer graphene, wherein the electric field is applied between a top gate electrode disposed above the bi-layer graphene and a bottom gate electrode disposed below the dielectric material; wherein the dielectric material comprises lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and wherein the bottom gate electrode comprises crystalline lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) upon which the PZT is formed.