Dimensional crossover of thermal conductance in graphene nanoribbons: a first-principles approach

First-principles density-functional calculations are performed to investigate the thermal transport properties in graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). The dimensional crossover of thermal conductance from one to two dimensions (2D) is clearly demonstrated with increasing ribbon width. The thermal conductance of GNRs of a few nanometers width already exhibits an approximate low-temperature dependence of T(1.5), like that of 2D graphene sheets which is attributed to the quadratic nature of the dispersion relation for the out-of-plane acoustic phonon modes. Using a zone-folding method, we heuristically derive the dimensional crossover of thermal conductance with the increase of ribbon width. Combining our calculations with the experimental phonon mean-free path, some typical values of thermal conductivity at room temperature are estimated for GNRs and for 2D graphene sheet. Our findings clarify the issue of the low-temperature dependence of thermal transport in GNRs and suggest a calibration range of thermal conductivity for experimental measurements in graphene-based materials.     

Rippling and the external electric field on conductance in corrugated graphene nanoribbons molecular device

Molecular devices constructed using corrugated graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are proposed in the paper. Recursive Green's function calculations show that the intrinsic ripples in graphene and the external electric field energy play important roles on the electron transport properties. Negative differential resistance is observed in zigzag corrugated GNRs. With the wavelength of the ripples decreasing, both the zigzag and armchair corrugated GNRs exhibit ON/OFF characteristics. On applying external electric field, current decreases dramatically in zigzag corrugated GNRs. These findings show that corrugated GNRs can be used to design functional nanoscale devices.     

Ab?initio characterization of graphene nanoribbons and their polymer precursors

Bottom-up fabrication of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) from halogen-terminated aromatic precursors is a promising method for achieving atomically precise nanoribbons at competitive yields. GNR fabrication proceeds via the polymerization of the precursors and successive dehydrogenation. By first principles density functional theory calculations, we perform a systematic characterization of the polymeric precursors and the corresponding graphene nanoribbons in terms of structural and electronic properties, and we compute the Raman and infrared spectra. The band structure properties are examined by considering the bonding features and the partial charge densities of the structures. The physical origin of the infrared and Raman peaks is investigated in terms of the morphology and vibrational properties of the precursors and products. We show that light spectroscopy provides a unique fingerprint for each type of GNR, which may be used to monitor the quality of the final products and the kinetics of the synthesis process.     

BN链掺杂的石墨烯纳米带的电学及磁学特性

基于密度泛函理论第一性原理系统研究了BN链掺杂石墨烯纳米带(GNRs)的电学及磁学特性, 对锯齿型石墨烯纳米带(ZGNRs)分非磁态(NM)、反铁磁态(AFM)及铁磁性(FM)三种情况分别进行考虑. 重点研究了单个BN链掺杂的位置效应. 计算发现: BN链掺杂扶手椅型石墨烯纳米带(AGNRs) 能使带隙增加, 不同位置的掺杂, 能使其成为带隙丰富的半导体. BN链掺杂非磁态ZGNR的不同位置, 其金属性均降低, 并能出现准金属的情况; BN链掺杂反铁磁态ZGNR, 能使其从半导体变为金属或半金属(half-metal), 这取决于掺杂的位置; BN链掺杂铁磁态ZGNR, 其金属性保持不变, 与掺杂位置无关. 这些结果表明: BN链掺杂能有效调控石墨烯纳米带的电子结构, 并形成丰富的电学及磁学特性, 这对于发展各种类型的石墨烯基纳米电子器件有重要意义. 关键词： 石墨烯纳米带 BN链掺杂 输运性质 自旋极化     

Plasmon resonance in multilayer graphene nanoribbons

Plasmon resonances in nanopatterned single‐layer graphene nanoribbons (SL‐GNRs), double‐layer graphene nanoribbons (DL‐GNRs) and triple‐layer graphene nanoribbons (TL‐GNRs) are studied experimentally using ‘realistic’ graphene samples. The existence of electrically tunable plasmons in stacked multilayer graphene nanoribbons was first experimentally verified by infrared microscopy. We find that the strength of the plasmonic resonance increases in DL‐GNRs when compared to SL‐GNRs. However, further increase was not observed in TL‐GNRs when compared to DL‐GNRs. We carried out systematic full‐wave simulations using a finite‐element technique to validate and fit experimental results, and extract the carrier‐scattering rate as a fitting parameter. The numerical simulations show remarkable agreement with experiments for an unpatterned SLG sheet, and a qualitative agreement for a patterned graphene sheet. We conclude with our perspective of the key bottlenecks in both experiments and theoretical models.

     

Effects of heteroatom (boron or nitrogen) substitutional doping on the electronic properties of graphene nanoribbons

The electronic properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with heteroatom (boron or nitrogen) substitutional doping at different sites are investigated by performing first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The calculated results show that boron substitutional doping changes the conducting characteristics of GNRs to half-metallic. In contrast, nitrogen substitutional doping results in retention of the half-metallic characteristics of GNRs. It is predicted that the theoretical results may be valuable to the design of GNR-based spintronics devices.     

From zigzag to armchair: the energetic stability, electronic and magnetic properties of chiral graphene nanoribbons with hydrogen-terminated edges

The energetic stability, electronic and magnetic properties of chiral graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with hydrogen-terminated edges are investigated using density functional theory. Our calculations show that the percentage of carbon atoms at the zigzag sites (P(z)) is the key factor determining the electronic and magnetic properties of chiral GNRs. Within the local spin density approximation, chiral GNRs with P(z) ≥ 50% have a semiconducting antiferromagnetic ground state. Otherwise, chiral GNRs are spin degenerate semiconductors. Thus, the critical chiral angle for the occurrence of spin polarization is determined to be 13.9°. In contrast to the antiferromagnetic state that is independent of the width of GNRs investigated, size effects occur for the ferromagnetic metastable state. These findings are helpful for the design of GNR-based spintronic devices.     

Tunable thermoelectric properties in bended graphene nanoribbons

The ballistic thermoelectric properties in bended graphene nanoribbons(GNRs) are systematically investigated by using atomistic simulation of electron and phonon transport. We find that the electron resonant tunneling effect occurs in the metallic–semiconducting linked ZZ-GNRs(the bended GNRs with zigzag edge leads). The electron-wave quantum interference effect occurs in the metallic–metallic linked AA-GNRs(the bended GNRs with armchair edge leads).These different physical mechanisms lead to the large Seebeck coefficient S and high electron conductance in bended ZZGNRs/AA-GNRs. Combined with the reduced lattice thermal conduction, the significant enhancement of the figure of merit ZT is predicted. Moreover, we find that the ZTmax(the maximum peak of ZT) is sensitive to the structural parameters. It can be conveniently tuned by changing the interbend length of bended GNRs. The magnitude of ZT ranges from the 0.15 to 0.72. Geometry-controlled ballistic thermoelectric effect offers an effective way to design thermoelectric devices such as thermocouples based on graphene.     

周期性纳米洞内边缘氧饱和石墨烯纳米带的电子特性

利用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,研究了内边缘氧饱和的周期性凿洞石墨烯纳米带（G NR）的电子特性. 研究结果表明：对于凿洞锯齿形石墨烯纳米带（ZGNRs）,在非磁性态时不仅始终为金属,且金属性明显增强;反铁磁态（AFM）时为半导体的ZGNR,凿洞后可能成为金属;但铁磁态（FM）为金属的ZGNR,凿洞后一般变为半导体或半金属. 而对于凿洞的扶手椅形石墨烯（AGNRs）,其带隙会明显增加. 深入分析发现：这是由于氧原子对石墨烯纳米带边的电子特性有重要的影响,以及颈次级纳米带（NSNR）及边缘次级纳米带（ESNR）的不同宽度及边缘形状（锯齿或扶手椅形）能呈现出不同的量子限域效应. 这些研究对于发展纳米电子器件有重要的意义. 关键词： 石墨烯纳米带 纳米洞 内边缘氧饱和 电子特性     

Fabrication of sulfur-doped cove-edged graphene nanoribbons on Au(111)

The on-surface synthesis from predesigned organic precursors can yield graphene nanoribbons(GNRs) with atomically precise widths, edge terminations and dopants, which facilitate the tunning of their electronic structures. Here, we report the synthesis of novel sulfur-doped cove-edged GNRs(S-CGNRs) on Au(111) from a specifically designed precursor containing thiophene rings. Scanning tunneling microscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy measurements elucidate the formation of S-CGNRs through subsequent polymerization and cyclodehydrogenation, which further result in crosslinked branched structures. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy results reveal the conduction band minimum of the S-CGNR locates at 1.2 e V. First-principles calculations show that the S-CGNR possesses an energy bandgap of 1.17 e V,which is evidently smaller than that of an undoped cove-edged GNR(1.7 e V), suggesting effective tuning of the bandgap by introducing sulfur atoms. Further increasing the coverage of precursors close to a monolayer results in the formation of linear-shaped S-CGNRs. The fabrication of S-CGNRs provides one more candidate in the GNR toolbox and promotes the future applications of heteroatom-doped graphene nanostructures.     

掺杂菱形BN片的石墨烯纳米带的电子特性

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,系统研究掺杂菱形BN片的石墨烯纳米带的电子特性.掺杂使扶手椅型石墨烯纳米带（AGNRs）的带隙增大,不同位置掺杂AGNRs的带隙大小略有差异.在无磁性态,无论是否掺杂,锯齿型石墨烯纳米带（ZGNRs）都为金属.在铁磁态,掺杂使ZGNRs由金属转变为半导体.而处于反铁磁态时,无论是否掺杂,ZGNRs都为半导体,掺杂使其带隙发生改变.掺杂的AGNRs和ZGNRs的结构稳定,掺杂ZGNRs的基态为反铁磁态.掺杂菱形BN片可以有效调控GNRs的电子特性.     

The influence of edge defects on the electrical and thermal transport of graphene nanoribbons

The electrical conductance, thermopower, thermal conductance and figure of merit of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are investigated using Green function formalism in the linear response regime. The Hamiltonian of GNR is described by the tight-binding approach and the effect of elastic interactions due to the electron–electron interaction or the thermal environmental fluctuations is considered by dephasing approach within the self-consistent Born approximation. The results show that the dephasing process leads to the reduction of the electrical transport of GNRs. Since the edge configuration of GNRs has the significant role in their electronic properties, it is shown that the electrical and thermal transports of the GNRs are decreased by the edge defects while the reduction of thermal conductance is more efficient, therefore, the thermal efficiency of GNRs is increased.     

A biosensor based on graphene nanoribbon with nanopores: a first-principles devices-design

A biosensor device,built from graphene nanoribbons(GNRs) with nanopores,was designed and studied by firstprinciples quantum transport simulation.We have demonstrated the intrinsic transport properties of the device and the effect of different nucleobases on device properties when they are located in the nanopores of GNRs.It was found that the device’s current changes remarkably with the species of nucleobases,which originates from their different chemical compositions and coupling strengths with GNRs.In addition,our first-principles results clearly reveal that the distinguished ability of a device’s current depends on the position of the pore to some extent.These results may present a new way to read off the nucleobases sequence of a single-stranded DNA(ssDNA) molecule by such GNRs-based device with designed nanopores     

Vibrational properties and Raman spectra of different edge graphene nanoribbons,studied by first-principles calculations

The vibrational properties and Raman spectra of graphene nanoribbons with six different edges have been studied by using the first-principles calculations. It is found that edge reconstruction leads to the emergence of localized vibrational modes and new topological defect modes, making the different edges identified by polarized Raman spectra. The radial breathing-like modes are found to be independent of the edge structures, while the G-band-related modes are affected by different edge structures. Our results suggest that the polarized Raman spectrum could be a powerful experimental tool for distinguishing the GNRs with different edge structures due to their different vibrational properties.     

应变石墨烯纳米带谐振特性的分子动力学研究

从动势能转换与守恒原理出发,在微正则(NVE)系综下,采用COMPASS力场对石墨烯纳米带及其应变传感器的谐振特性进行了分子动力学模拟.研究发现,非线性响应主导了石墨烯纳米带的动态行为,而其超高的基波频率则与长度和边界条件密切相关;单轴拉伸应变对石墨烯纳米带基波频率的影响显著且强烈依赖于边界条件,四边固支型应变石墨烯纳米带具有更高的频移,其灵敏度可高达7800 Hz/nanostrain,远大于相同长度碳纳米管应变传感器的灵敏度;石墨烯纳米带及其应变传感器的谐振特性均与手性无关.本文所得结果表明,由于超低 关键词： 石墨烯纳米带 分子动力学 应变 基波频率     

Electronic and magnetic properties of copper-family-element atom adsorbed graphene nanoribbons with zigzag edges

We have investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of copper-family-element (CFE) atom adsorbed graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with zigzag edges using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. We found that CFE atoms energetically prefer to be adsorbed at the edges of nanoribbons. Charges are transferred between the CFE atom and carbon atoms at the edge, which reduce the local magnetic moment of carbon atoms in the vicinity of adsorption site and change the electronic structure of GNRs. As a result, Cu adsorbed zigzag GNR is a semiconductor with energy band gap of 0.88 eV in beta-spin and energy gap of 0.22 eV in alpha-spin, while Ag adsorbed zigzag GNR and Au adsorbed zigzag GNR are both half-metallic with the energy gaps of 0.68 eV and 0.63 eV in beta-spin, respectively. These results show that CFE atom adsorbed zigzag GNRs can be applied in nanoelectronics and spintronics.     

机械剥离法制备石墨烯纳米带及其低温电输运性质研究

用机械剥离法制备了数10 μm长的石墨烯纳米带,并在0.3 K的低温下对其电输运性质进行了测量研究,看到了法布里-珀罗干涉现象. 实验结果表明,机械剥离法得到的石墨烯纳米带具有很高的质量,使得其中的电子在低温下能够形成一个很好的一维体系. 关键词： 石墨烯纳米带 机械剥离法 法布里-珀罗干涉     

化学气相沉积石墨烯薄膜的洁净转移

石墨烯因其优异的性能在很多领域具有广阔的应用前景.目前石墨烯薄膜主要是以铜作为催化基底,通过化学气相沉积法制备.这种方法制备的石墨烯薄膜需要被转移到目标基底上进行后续应用,而转移过程则会对石墨烯造成污染,进而影响石墨烯的性质及器件的性能.如何减少或避免污染,实现石墨烯的洁净转移,是石墨烯薄膜转移技术研究的重要课题,也是本综述的主题.本综述首先简单介绍了石墨烯的转移方法;进而重点讨论由于转移而引入的各种污染物及其对石墨烯性质的影响,以及如何抑制污染物的引入或如何将其有效地去除;最后总结了石墨烯洁净转移所存在的挑战,展望了未来的研究方向和机遇.本综述不仅有助于石墨烯薄膜转移技术的研究,对整个二维材料器件的洁净制备也将有重要参考价值.     

Edge effects on the characteristics of uranium diffusion on graphene and graphene nanoribbons

The first principles density-functional theoretical calculations of U adatom adsorption and diffusion on a planar graphene and quasi-one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons(GNRs) are performed. An energetic preference is found for U adatom diffusing to the hollow sites of both graphene and GNRs surface. A number of U distinctive diffusion paths either perpendicular or parallel to the ribbon growth direction are examined. The edge effects are evidenced by the calculated energy barriers of U adatom diffusion on armchair and zigzag nanoribbons surfaces. The calculation results indicate that the diffusion of U adatom from the inner site toward the edge site is a feasible process, particularly in zigzagGNR. It is viable to control the initial morphology of nuclear carbon material to retard the diffusion and concentration of nuclides.     

双空位缺陷石墨纳米带的电子结构和输运性质研究

基于第一原理电子结构和输运性质计算,研究了585双空位拓扑缺陷对锯齿（zigzag）型石墨纳米带（具有椅型（armchair）边）电子结构和输运性质的影响.研究发现,585双空位缺陷的存在使得锯齿型石墨纳米带的能隙增大,并在能隙中出现了一条局域于缺陷处的缺陷态能带,双空位缺陷的取向也影响其能带结构.另外,585双空位缺陷对能隙较小的锯齿型石墨纳米带输运性质的影响较大,而对能隙较大的锯齿型石墨纳米带影响很小,缺陷取向并不显著影响纳米带的输运性质. 关键词： 石墨纳米带 585空位缺陷 电子结构 输运性质