Tunable Schottky contacts in the antimonene/graphene van der Waals heterostructures

Electronic structures modulation in the antimonene/graphene van der Waals(vdW) heterostructure with an external electric field(Eext) are investigated by density functional theory calculations. It is demonstrated that weak vdW interactions dominate between antimonene and graphene with their intrinsic electronic properties preserved. Furthermore, the vertical Eext can control not only the Schottky barrier but also the Schottky contacts (n-type and p-type) and Ohmic contacts (n-type) at the antimonene/graphene interface. Meanwhile, the negative Eext can shifts the Dirac point of graphene above the Fermi level, resulting in p-type doping in graphene because electrons can easily transfer from the Dirac point of graphene to the conduction band of antimonene. The present study would open a new avenue for application of ultrathin antimonene/graphene heterostructures in future nano- and optoelectronics.