Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of graphene nanogaps

Abstract

Graphene nanogaps represent an emerging platform for nanoscale electrochemical and sensing devices, with potential applications in next-generation biomolecular sequencing. However, their interfacial behavior in aqueous environments remains poorly characterized, particularly with respect to frequency-dependent impedance and charge transport mechanisms at the graphene edge. We fabricate graphene nanogaps by controlled electrical breakdown in an inert atmosphere and study their electrochemical response. Upon exposure to ambient conditions, a surface contamination layer supports electrochemical activity within an adsorbed ultrathin conductive film between the graphene edges. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals distinct frequency-dependent responses consistent with a Warburg element associated with diffusion in this confined interfacial film. The impedance evolves systematically with liquid $\mathrm{p}H$, reflecting changes in electrochemical reaction-diffusion processes at the graphene edges. A quantitative equivalent-circuit model captures these effects and enables extraction of an effective nanogap length scale from impedance spectra, providing information complementary to that obtained from tunneling measurements.