Graphene bandgap induced by ferroelectric Pca2₁ HfO₂ substrate: a first-principles study

The electronic properties of graphene on top of ferroelectric HfO$_2$ substrates in orthorhombic phase with space group Pca2$_1$ are investigated using density functional theory calculations. The space group Pca2$_1$ was recently identified as one of the two potential candidates for ferroelectricity in hafnia, with the polarization direction oriented along [001] direction. Our results indicate the appearance of sizable energy gaps in graphene induced by the HfO$_2$ substrate, as a consequence of orbital hybridization and locally deformed graphene structure. The gap sizes depend on the type of the HfO$_2$ terminations interacting with graphene, showing larger gaps for oxygen terminated slabs compared to hafnium terminated ones. These observations may prove to be highly significant for the development of graphene based field effect transistors using high-k dielectrics.