Title: Direct writing of heterostructures in single atomically precise graphene nanoribbons

Abstract

Precision control of interfacial structures and electronic properties is the key to the realization of functional heterostructures. Here, utilizing the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) both as a manipulation and characterization tool, we demonstrate the fabrication of a heterostructure in a single atomically precise graphene nanoribbon (GNR) and report its electronic properties. The heterostructure is made of a seven-carbon-wide armchair GNR and a lower band gap intermediate ribbon synthesized bottom-up from a molecular precursor on an Au substrate. The short GNR segments are directly written in the ribbon with a STM tip to form atomic precision intraribbon heterostructures. Based on STM studies combined with density functional theory calculations, we show that the heterostructure has a type-I band alignment, with manifestations of quantum confinement and orbital hybridization. Finally, our finding demonstrates a feasible strategy to create a double-barrier quantum dot structure with atomic precision for functionalities, such as negative differential resistance devices in GNR-based nanoelectronics.

Authors:

Ma, Chuanxu  ^[1];

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Xiao, Zhongcan ^[2]; Huang, Jingsong  ^[3];

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Liang, Liangbo  ^[1];

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Lu, Wenchang ^[4]; Hong, Kunlun  ^[1];

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Sumpter, Bobby G.  ^[3];

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Bernholc, Jerzy ^[4]; Li, An-Ping  ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Science (CNMS)
2. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Physics
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Science (CNMS); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Computational Sciences and Engineering Division
4. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Physics; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Computational Sciences and Engineering Division

Publication Date:

2019-01-03

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1489549

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1489426

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725; FG02-98ER45685

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physical Review Materials

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 3; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2475-9953

Publisher:

American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY