High-performance planar nanoscale dielectric capacitors

Abstract

We propose a model for planar nanoscale dielectric capacitors consisting of a single layer, insulating hexagonal boron nitride (BN) stripe placed between two metallic graphene stripes, all forming commensurately a single atomic plane. First-principles density functional calculations on these nanoscale capacitors for different levels of charging and different widths of graphene-BN stripes mark high gravimetric capacitance values, which are comparable to those of supercapacitors made from other carbon-based materials. Present nanocapacitor models allow the fabrication of series, parallel, and mixed combinations which offer potential applications in two-dimensional flexible nanoelectronics, energy storage, and heat-pressure sensing systems. © 2015 American Physical Society.