Structural, electronic, and optical properties of hybrid silicene and graphene nanocomposite

Structural, electronic, and optical properties of hybrid silicene and graphene (S/G) nanocomposite are examined with density functional theory calculations. It turns out that weak van der Waals interactions dominate between silicene and graphene with their intrinsic electronic properties preserved. Interestingly, interlayer interactions in hybrid S/G nanocomposite induce tunable p-type and n-type doping of silicene and graphene, respectively, showing their doping carrier concentrations can be modulated by their interfacial spacing.