On the origin of contact resistances in graphene devices fabricated by optical lithography

The contact resistance is a key bottleneck limiting the performance of graphene-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. Using a combined approach of atomic force microscopy patterning, Kelvin probe force microscopy and micro-Raman mapping, we study the influence of optical lithography resists on the contact resistance in graphene devices. We find that devices fabricated by optical lithography show a significantly larger contact resistance compared to devices produced by electron beam lithography using polymethylmethacrylate as resist. This difference is attributed to a 3-4-nm-thick residual layer remaining in between the contact metal and the graphene after optical lithography.