The detection of Kondo effect in the resistivity of graphene: artifacts and strategies

Johannes Jobst, Ferdinand Kisslinger, Heiko B. Weber

Published 2013-08-30Version 1

We discuss the difficulties to discover Kondo effect in the resistivity of graphene. Similarly to the Kondo effect, electron-electron interaction effects and weak localization appear as logarithmic corrections to the resistance. In order to disentangle these contributions, a refined analysis of the magnetoconductance and the magnetoresistance is introduced. We present numerical simulations which display the discrimination of both effects. Further, we present experimental data of magnetotransport. When magnetic molecules are added to graphene, a logarithmic correction to the conductance occurs, which apparently suggests Kondo physics. Our thorough evaluation scheme, however, reveals that this interpretation is not conclusive: the data can equally be explained by electron-electron interaction corrections in an inhomogeneous sample. Our evaluation scheme paves the way for a more refined search for the Kondo effect in graphene.