Non-Linear Conductivity Response of Graphene on Thin-Film PET Characterized by Transmission and Reflection Air-Plasma THz-TDS

We demonstrate that the conductivity of graphene on thin-film polymer substrates can be accurately determined by reflection-mode air-plasma-based THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The phase uncertainty issue associated with reflection measurements is discussed, and our implementation is validated by convincing agreement with graphene electrical properties extracted from more conventional transmission-mode measurements. Both the reflection and transmission THz-TDS measurements reveal strong non-linear and instantaneous conductivity depletion across an ultra-broad bandwidth (1–9 THz) under relatively high incident THz electrical field strengths (up to 1050 kV/cm).