Abstract The electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) can be engineered by controlling their edge structure and width with atomic precision through bottom‐up fabrication based on molecular precursors. This approach offers a unique platform for all‐carbon electronic devices but requires careful optimization of the growth conditions to match structural requirements for successful device integration, with GNR length being the most critical parameter. In this work, the growth, characterization, and device integration of 5‐atom wide armchair GNRs (5‐AGNRs) are studied, which are expected to have an optimal bandgap as active material in switching devices. 5‐AGNRs are obtained via on‐surface synthesis under ultrahigh vacuum conditions from Br‐ and I‐substituted precursors. It is shown that the use of I‐substituted precursors and the optimization of the initial precursor coverage quintupled the average 5‐AGNR length. This significant length increase allowed the integration of 5‐AGNRs into devices and the realization of the first field‐effect transistor based on narrow bandgap AGNRs that shows switching behavior at room temperature. The study highlights that the optimized growth protocols can successfully bridge between the sub‐nanometer scale, where atomic precision is needed to control the electronic properties, and the scale of tens of nanometers relevant for successful device integration of GNRs.
more »
« less
Controlled catalyst-transfer polymerization in graphene nanoribbon synthesis
Exercising direct control over the unusual electronic structures arising from quantum confinement effects in graphene nanorib-bons (GNRs) is intimately linked to geometric boundary conditions imposed by the structure of the ribbon. Besides composition and position of substitutional dopant atoms, the symmetry of the unit cell, width, length, and termination of a GNR govern its electronic structure. Here we present a rational design that integrates each of these interdependent variables within a modular bottom-up syn-thesis. Our hybrid chemical approach relies on a catalyst transfer polymerization (CTP) that establishes excellent control over length, width, and end-groups. Complemented by a surface-assisted cy-clodehydrogenation step, uniquely enabled by matrix-assisted di-rect (MAD) transfer protocols, geometry and functional handles encoded in a polymer template are faithfully mapped onto the structure of the corresponding GNR. Bond-resolved scanning tun-nelling microscopy (BRSTM) and spectroscopy (STS) validate the robust correlation between polymer template design and GNR electronic structure.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2203911
- PAR ID:
- 10515581
- Publisher / Repository:
- CHEM
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chem
- Volume:
- 10
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 2451-9294
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 675 to 685
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), Suzuki chain transfer polymerization (SCTP), matrix assisted direct (MAD) transfer, on-surface synthesis (OSS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS)
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
The design and fabrication of robust metallic states in graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are challenging because lateral quantum confinement and many-electron interactions induce electronic band gaps when graphene is patterned at nanometer length scales. Recent developments in bottom-up synthesis have enabled the design and characterization of atomically precise GNRs, but strategies for realizing GNR metallicity have been elusive. Here we demonstrate a general technique for inducing metallicity in GNRs by inserting a symmetric superlattice of zero-energy modes into otherwise semiconducting GNRs. We verify the resulting metallicity using scanning tunneling spectroscopy as well as first-principles density-functional theory and tight-binding calculations. Our results reveal that the metallic bandwidth in GNRs can be tuned over a wide range by controlling the overlap of zero-mode wave functions through intentional sublattice symmetry breaking.more » « less
-
Abstract Carbon‐based quantum dots (QDs) enable flexible manipulation of electronic behavior at the nanoscale, but controlling their magnetic properties requires atomically precise structural control. While magnetism is observed in organic molecules and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), GNR precursors enabling bottom‐up fabrication of QDs with various spin ground states have not yet been reported. Here the development of a new GNR precursor that results in magnetic QD structures embedded in semiconducting GNRs is reported. Inserting one such molecule into the GNR backbone and graphitizing it results in a QD region hosting one unpaired electron. QDs composed of two precursor molecules exhibit nonmagnetic, antiferromagnetic, or antiferromagnetic ground states, depending on the structural details that determine the coupling behavior of the spins originating from each molecule. The synthesis of these QDs and the emergence of localized states are demonstrated through high‐resolution atomic force microscopy (HR‐AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging, and spectroscopy, and the relationship between QD atomic structure and magnetic properties is uncovered. GNR QDs provide a useful platform for controlling the spin‐degree of freedom in carbon‐based nanostructures.more » « less
-
Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), when synthesized with atomic precision by bottom–up chemical approaches, possess tunable electronic structure, and high theoretical mobility, conductivity, and heat dissipation capabilities, which makes them an excellent candidate for channel material in post-silicon transistors. Despite their immense potential, achieving highly transparent contacts for efficient charge transport—which requires proper contact selection and a deep understanding of the complex one-dimensional GNR channel-three-dimensional metal contact interface—remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated the impact of different electron-beam deposited contact metals—the commonly used palladium (Pd) and softer metal indium (In)—on the structural properties and field-effect transistor performance of semiconducting nine-atom wide armchair GNRs. The performance and integrity of the GNR channel material were studied by means of a comprehensive Raman spectroscopy analysis, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging, optical absorption calculations, and transport measurements. We found that, compared to Pd, In contacts facilitate favorable Ohmic-like transport because of the reduction of interface defects, while the edge structure quality of GNR channel plays a more dominant role in determining the overall device performance. Our study provides a blueprint for improving device performance through contact engineering and material quality enhancements in emerging GNR-based technology.more » « less
-
Photoelectrosynthetic assemblies provide an approach to capture, convert, and store solar energy as a fuel. However, the ability to effectively assemble the requisite components and control their properties remains an outstanding challenge. Our research group has recently developed a bioinspired synthetic methodology for interfacing polymeric surface coatings to (semi)conducting surfaces. The surface-grafted polymer chains provide: 1) a protective coating for the underpinning surface, 2) appropriate functional groups to direct, template, and assemble molecular components, including catalysts, and 3) a stabilizing three-dimensional environment for catalysts embedded within the polymers. Incorporation of rational synthetic design principles affords further control over the activity of the hybrid assemblies. The reported constructs thus set the stage for an improved understanding of the nano-, meso-, and macro-scale structure−function relationships governing the optoelectronic and catalytic properties of surface-immobilized catalyst−polymer architectures.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

