TY - THES A1 - Herrmann, Oliver T1 - Graphene-based single-electron and hybrid devices, their lithography, and their transport properties T1 - Lithographie und Transporteigenschaften auf Graphen basierender Einzelelektronentransistoren und Hybridbauteilen N2 - This work explores three different aspects of graphene, a single-layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, with regards to its usage in future electronic devices; for instance in the context of quantum information processing. For a long time graphene was believed to be thermodynamically unstable. The discovery of this strictly two-dimensional material completed the family of carbon based structures, which had already been subject of intensive research with focus on zero-dimensional fullerenes and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes. Within only a few years of its discovery, the field of graphene related research has grown into one of today’s most diverse and prolific areas in condensed matter physics, highlighted by the award of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics to A.K. Geim and K. Noveselov for “their groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene”. From the point of view of an experimental physicist interested in the electronic properties of a material system, the most intriguing characteristic of graphene is found in the Dirac-like nature of its charge carriers, a peculiar fact that distinguishes graphene from all other known standard semiconductors. The dynamics of charge carriers close to zero energy are described by a linear energy dispersion relation, as opposed to a parabolic one, which can be understood as a result of the underlying lattice symmetry causing them to behave like massless relativistic particles. This fundamentally different behavior can be expected to lead to the observation of completely new phenomena or the occurrence of deviations in well-known effects. Following a brief introduction of the material system in chapter 2, we present our work studying the effect of induced superconductivity in mesoscopic graphene Josephson junctions by proximity to superconducting contacts in chapter 3. We explore the use of Nb as the superconducting material driven by the lack of high critical temperature and high critical magnetic field superconductor technology in graphene devices at that time. Characterization of sputter-deposited Nb films yield a critical transition temperature of \(T_{C}\sim 8{\rm \,mK}\). A prerequisite for successful device operation is a high interface quality between graphene and the superconductor. In this context we identify the use of an Ti as interfacial layer and incorporate its use by default in our lithography process. Overall we are able to increase the interface transparency to values as high as \(85\%\). With the prospect of interesting effects in the ballistic regime we try to enhance the electronic quality of our Josephson junction devices by substrate engineering, yet with limited success. We achieve moderate charge carrier mobilities of up to \(7000{\rm \,cm^2/Vs}\) on a graphene/Boron-nitride heterostructure (fabrication details are covered in chapter 5) putting the junction in the diffusive regime (\(L_{device}