Self-doped graphite nanobelts

We report that mechanical deformation of graphite with cavity shock waves introduces a new group of charge carriers, with both effective mass and native concentration one order of magnitude above those found in the pristine material. Their nature, however, remains quasi-2D. Our results show that defects introduced during mechanical exfoliation have the potential to unlock oscillatory behavior above 50 T in graphite, thus providing a new probe for field-induced electronic phase transitions in the material.

Automated summary

We demonstrate that mechanical deformation of graphite through cavity shock waves can generate a new set of charge carriers, with significantly higher effective mass and native concentration compared to the pristine material. These carriers, however, still exhibit quasi-2D behavior. Our findings highlight the potential of defects introduced during mechanical exfoliation to induce oscillatory behavior above 50 T in graphite, offering a new avenue for studying field-induced electronic phase transitions in this material.