Electron transport in model quasi-two-dimensional Van der Waals nanodevices

Electron transport in a model nanodevice consisting of a combination of graphene, silicene, and molybdenum disulfide coupled by van der Waals bonds is studied within the framework of the density functional theory in the local-density approximation and method of nonequilibrium Green functions. The volt–ampere and $dI/dV$ characteristics and transmission spectra of the nanodevices are calculated. It is revealed that the combination of silicene and molybdenum disulfide forms a new nanosystem with metallic properties manifesting themselves in its electron transport characteristics. It is shown that the graphene–MoS$_2$–silicene hybrid nanostructure has rectifying properties due to the formation of the Schottky barrier, while steps of Coulomb origin appear in its volt–ampere characteristic at a positive voltage.