STM Characterization of Metallic Graphene Nanoribbons

ORAL

Abstract

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are narrow strips of graphene that can host a wide range of 1-dimensional phenomena, including non-trivial topology and magnetism. The advent of molecule-based bottom-up synthesis techniques has enabled GNR properties to be tuned via the precise placement of individual carbon atoms. Realization of robust metallicity in bottom-up GNRs, however, remains elusive. The ability to engineer the frontier band structure of GNRs via hybridization of topologically-protected interface states suggests a strategy for inducing GNR metallicity by symmetrizing the hopping between adjacent interface states. Using this approach we have realized metallic GNR superlattices that are gapless by virtue of the symmetric placement of π-radical states along the GNR backbone. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) performed in conjunction with first-principles calculations confirms that these GNR superlattices possess a non-zero density of states (DOS) through EF, a hallmark of metallicity. Strategies for increasing the bandwidth of metallic GNRs will be discussed.

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Presenters

  • Daniel J Rizzo

    Physics, University of California - Berkeley

Authors

  • Daniel J Rizzo

    Physics, University of California - Berkeley

  • Gregory Veber

    Chemistry, UC Berkeley, Chemistry, University of California - Berkeley

  • Jingwei Jiang

    Physics, UC Berkeley, Physics, University of California - Berkeley

  • Christopher Bronner

    Physics, UC Berkeley, Physics, University of California - Berkeley

  • Ting Chen

    Physics, University of California - Berkeley

  • Steven G. Louie

    Physics, UC Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Physics Department, UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Physics, University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Physics, University of California, Berkeley, UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Physics, University of California - Berkeley, Physics and Materials Sciences, University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and University of California, Berkeley, University of California - Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Felix R Fischer

    Chemistry, UC Berkeley, Chemistry, University of California - Berkeley

  • Michael F Crommie

    Physics, UC Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Physics, University of California - Berkeley