One-dimensional binary photonic crystals of graphene sheets embedded in dielectrics

In this work, we introduce a novel structure of one-dimensional (1D) binary photonic crystals made of periodic stacks of a dielectric layer followed by alternating graphene and dielectric stripes. The transfer matrix method (TMM) is employed to investigate the electromagnetic wave propagating in such a structure and determine the transmittance of the incident radiation. The photonic band gap width (PBGW) and its spectral location are obtained analytically as functions of the thicknesses of layers, refractive index gradient, graphene chemical potential, number of periods and angle of incidence. Based on the results obtained, the proposed structures could be utilized in designing various tunable devices such as modulators, tunable filters, pressure sensors and logic circuits. The optical response of the proposed structure of graphene-based-crystals is found to be in the 17–60 THz frequency range which has not been investigated before.