The effects of spin-filter and negative differential resistance on Fe-substituted zigzag graphene nanoribbons

Using the first-principle calculations, we investigate the spin-dependent transport properties of Fe-substituted zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs). The substituted ZGNRs with single or double Fe atoms, distributing symmetrically or asymmetrically on both edges, are considered. Our results show Fe-substitution can significantly change electronic transport of ZGNRs, and the spin-filter effect and negative differential resistance (NDR) can be observed. We propose that the distribution of the electronic spin-states of ZGNRs can be modulated by the substituted Fe and results in the spin-polarization, and meanwhile the change of the delocalization of the frontier molecular orbitals at different bias may be responsible for the NDR behavior.     

Negative differential resistance and rectification effects in zigzag graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions: Induced by edge oxidation and symmetry concept

By applying non-equilibrium Green's functions (NEGF) in combination with tight-binding (TB) model, we investigate and compare the electronic transport properties of H-terminated zigzag graphene nanoribbon (H/ZGNR) and O-terminated ZGNR/H-terminated ZGNR (O/ZGNR–H/ZGNR) heterostructure under finite bias. Moreover, the effect of width and symmetry on the electronic transport properties of both models is also considered. The results reveal that asymmetric H/ZGNRs have linear I–V characteristics in whole bias range, but symmetric H-ZGNRs show negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior which is inversely proportional to the width of the H/ZGNR. It is also shown that the I–V characteristic of O/ZGNR–H/ZGNR heterostructure shows a rectification effect, whether the geometrical structure is symmetric or asymmetric. The fewer the number of zigzag chains, the bigger the rectification ratio. It should be mentioned that, the rectification ratios of symmetric heterostructures are much bigger than asymmetric one. Transmission spectrum, density of states (DOS), molecular projected self-consistent Hamiltonian (MPSH) and molecular eigenstates are analyzed subsequently to understand the electronic transport properties of these ZGNR devices. Our findings could be used in developing nanoscale rectifiers and NDR devices.     

Electronic properties and conductance suppression of defected and doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons

By using the first-principles calculation based on density functional theory, we investigate the electronic structures and transport properties of the defected and doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs). The effects of multivacancies defects and impurities have been considered. The results show that band structures of ZGNRs can be tuned strongly and currents drop drastically due to the defect and impurities. Moreover, the notable suppression of conductance can be found near the Fermi level, leading to the negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior under low bias. This effect presents a possibility in novel nanoelectronics devices application.     

Role of symmetry in the transport properties of graphene nanoribbons under bias

The intrinsic transport properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are investigated using first-principles calculations. It is found that although all ZGNRs have similar metallic band structure, they show distinctly different transport behaviors under bias voltages, depending on whether they are mirror symmetric with respect to the midplane between two edges. Asymmetric ZGNRs behave as conventional conductors with linear current-voltage dependence, while symmetric ZGNRs exhibit unexpected very small currents with the presence of a conductance gap around the Fermi level. This difference is revealed to arise from different coupling between the conducting subbands around the Fermi level, which is dependent on the symmetry of the systems.     

界面铁掺杂锯齿形石墨烯纳米带的自旋输运性能

基于密度泛函理论第一原理系统研究了界面铁掺杂锯齿(zigzag)形石墨烯纳米带的自旋输运性能, 首先考虑了宽度为4的锯齿(zigzag)形石墨烯纳米带, 构件了4个纳米器件模型, 对应于中心散射区的长度分别为N=4, 6, 8和10个石墨烯单胞的长度, 铁掺杂在中心区和电极的界面. 发现在铁磁(FM)态, 四个器件的β自旋的电流远大于α自旋的电流, 产生了自旋过滤现象; 而界面铁掺杂的反铁磁态模型, 两种电流自旋都很小, 无法产生自旋过滤现象; 进一步考虑电极的反自旋构型, 器件电流显示出明显的自旋过滤效应. 探讨了带宽分别为5和6的纳米器件的自旋输运性能, 中心散射区的长度为N=6个石墨烯单胞的长度, FM 态下器件两种自旋方向的电流值也存在较大的差异, β自旋的电流远大于α自旋电流. 这些结果表明: 界面铁掺杂能有效调控锯齿形石墨烯纳米带的自旋电子, 对于设计和发展高极化自旋过滤器件有重要意义.     

Multifunctionality for the nanojunction of a rotating p-phenylene vinylene molecule between graphene leads

With the multi-functional molecular device based on graphene nanoribbon being deeply studied in experiment, the zigzag-edged graphene device is still worth to investigate. Employing the ab-initio method, the spin transport properties have been studied for the nanojunctions consisting of a p-phenylene vinylene (PPV) molecule sandwiched between two-probe leads of zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs). A series of obvious electromagnetic transmission functionalities, including spin switching, negative differential resistance (NDR), dual spin-filtering, magnetoresistance and spin-diode behaviors, are numerically referred in the proposed molecular junction within spin parallel or antiparallel configurations. The performance of switching and double spin filtering can be explained by the transport spectra or total transmission pathways. Besides, the rectification effect is due to the asymmetry spatial distribution of the local density of states as well as the corresponding coupling between the PPV molecule and leads. It is expected that the designed models can be ideal candidate for future spintronic device.     

Negative differential resistance in ZnO coated peptide nanotube

We investigate the room temperature electronic transport properties of a zinc oxide (ZnO) coated peptide nanotube contacted with Au electrodes. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics show asymmetric negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior along with current rectification. The NDR phenomenon is observed in both negative and positive voltage sweep scans, and found to be dependent on the scan rate and humidity. Our results suggest that the NDR is due to protonic conduction arising from water molecule redox reaction on the surface of ZnO coated peptide nanotubes rather than the conventional resonant tunneling mechanism.     

锯齿型石墨烯带缺陷改性方法研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的非平衡格林函数, 对具有不同缺陷构型的锯齿型石墨烯带(zigzag graphene nanoribbon, ZGNR) 的输运性质进行了理论计算与模拟. 研究表明, 相同数目、 不同构型缺陷结构对ZGNR的导电特性将产生不同的影响. 如A-B构型双空缺对ZGNR电导的影响最为显著, 而A-A构型双空缺对其电导的影响最小. 更为重要的是, 当引入碳环构型缺陷时, ZGNR将被改性, 即由原本的金属性质转变为半导体性质, 为缺陷调控石墨烯导电特性提供了理论依据.     

Spin transport properties in Fe-doped graphene/hexagonal boron-nitride nanoribbons heterostructures

By combining non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) with density functional theory (DFT), we systematically study the spin-related transport properties of the heterostructures composed of graphene and hexagonal boron-nitride (h-BN) when the metal Fe is doped different positions of the heterostructures interface. The results show that the heterostructures exhibit obvious spin-filtering effect (SFE) and negative differential resistance (NDR) due to the different absorbing positions of the metal Fe. And the spin filtering ratio can reach more than 90% in a specific bias voltage range. Moreover, spin-rectifying behaviors are detected in the heterostructures. Whether it is for the design of multifunctional devices or the synthesis of spintronic devices, these findings will have some reference value.     

Transport properties of boron-doped single-walled silicon carbide nanotubes

The doped boron (B) atom in silicon carbide nanotube (SiCNT) can substitute carbon or silicon atom, forming two different structures. The transport properties of both B-doped SiCNT structures are investigated by the method combined non-equilibrium Green’s function with density functional theory (DFT). As the bias ranging from 0.8 to 1.0 V, the negative differential resistance (NDR) effect occurs, which is derived from the great difficulty for electrons tunneling from one electrode to another with the increasing of localization of molecular orbital. The high similar transport properties of both B-doped SiCNT indicate that boron is a suitable impurity for fabricating nano-scale SiCNT electronic devices.     

堆叠石墨片对锯齿型石墨纳米带电子输运的影响

采用格林函数方法研究了堆叠石墨片对锯齿型石墨纳米带电子输运性质的影响,计算了两种不同堆叠方式下锯齿型石墨纳米带的电导.研究发现,由于堆叠石墨片与石墨纳米带的耦合作用,锯齿型石墨纳米带的电导谱出现了电导谷.在远离费米能处,两种堆叠方式下的电导谷位置相近甚至重合;而在费米能附近,两种堆叠方式下的电导谷存在差异.此外,讨论了堆叠石墨片的几何尺寸对锯齿型石墨纳米带电子输运的影响.结果显示,随石墨片几何尺寸的增大,锯齿型石墨纳米带在两种堆叠方式下远离费米能处的电导谷逐渐向费米能方向移动,同时其费米能附近的电导谷在两种堆叠方式下的差异随石墨片尺寸的增大变得更为明显.研究结果表明,堆叠石墨片能够有效地调制锯齿型石墨纳米带的电子输运性质.     

Valley-polarized pumping current in zigzag graphene nanoribbons with different spatial symmetries

We numerically investigate the valley-polarized current in symmetric and asymmetric zigzag graphene nanoribbons(ZGNRs) by the adiabatic pump, and the effect of spatial symmetry is considered by introducing different pumping regions. It is found that pumping potentials with the symmetry V_p(x,y) = V_p(-x,y)can generate the largest valleypolarized current. The valley-polarized currents I_(13)~L with the pumping potential symmetry V_p(x,y) =Vp(x,-y,) and I_(14)~L with V_p(x,y) = V_p(-x,-y) of symmetric ZGNRs are much smaller than those of asymmetric ZGNRs. We also find I_(13)~L and I_(14)~L of symmetric ZGNRs decrease and increase with the increasing pumping amplitude, respectively. Moreover, the dephasing effect from the electron-phonon coupling within the Buttiker dephasing scheme is introduced. The valley-polarized current of the symmetric ZGNRs with V_p(x,y)= V_p(x,-y) increases with the increase of the dephasing strength while that with V_p(x,y) = V_p(-x,-y) decreases as the dephasing strength increases.     

Strong n-type molecule as low bias negative differential resistance device predicted by first-principles study

A first-principles study of the transport properties of two thiolated pentacenes sandwiching ethyl is performed. The thiolated pentacene molecule shows strong n-type characteristics when contact Ag lead because of low work function about metal Ag. A strong negative differential resistance (NDR) effect with large peak-to-valley ratio of 758% is present under low bias. Our investigations indicate that strong n- or p-type molecules can be used as low bias molecular NDR devices and that the molecular NDR effect based on molecular-level leaving not on molecular-level crossing has no hysteresis.     

Structural defects influence on the conductance of strained zigzag graphene nanoribbon

In this paper, we investigate the influence of point structural defects on the transport properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) under uniaxial strain field, using the numerical studies based on the ab-initio calculation, the standard tight-binding model and Green's functions. The calculation results show that the direction of applied strain and defect type significantly affect the conductance properties of ZGNRs. The conductance of the defective nanoribbons generally decreases and some dips corresponding to complete electron backscattering is appeared. This behavior is originated from the different coupling between the conducting electronic states influenced by the wave function modification around the Fermi energy which depends on the defect type. We show that the presence of defects leads to a significant increase in local current. Furthermore, we have investigated the strain-tunable spin transport of defective ZGNRs in the presence of the exchange magnetic field and Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC).     

Enhanced gas sensor based on nitrogen-vacancy graphene nanoribbons

We study the electron transport of nitrogen-vacancy zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) absorbing gas molecules. It is found that the nitrogen-vacancy ZGNRs are more sensitive to the gas molecules than the pristine ZGNRs. The gas molecules absorbed on the three-nitrogen vacancies lead to sharp resonant peaks on conductance, while those absorbed on the four-nitrogen vacancies lead to anti-resonant dips. Each kind of gas molecule can be detected by its own unique (different energy) resonant peaks (or dips). This indicates that the nitrogen vacancy can enhance the sensitivity to gas molecules, i.e., nitrogen-vacancy ZGNRs can serve as better gas sensors.     

Spin-polarized transport properties of a pyridinium-based molecular spintronics device

By applying a first-principles approach based on non-equilibrium Green's functions combined with density functional theory, the transport properties of a pyridinium-based “radical-π-radical” molecular spintronics device are investigated. The obvious negative differential resistance (NDR) and spin current polarization (SCP) effect, and abnormal magnetoresistance (MR) are obtained. Orbital reconstruction is responsible for novel transport properties such as that the MR increases with bias and then decreases and that the NDR being present for both parallel and antiparallel magnetization configurations, which may have future applications in the field of molecular spintronics.     

FeN3掺杂扶手椅型石墨烯纳米条带的极强电流极化和微分负导效应

本文运用第一性原理研究了FeN₃掺杂扶手椅型和锯齿型石墨烯纳米条带的电子结构和输运性质. 结果表明,FeN₃掺杂可导致两种类型的条带的能带结构发生显著变化,导致体系具有稳定的室温铁磁基态. 但是,只有扶手椅型条带具有明显的负微分电导和极强的电流极化效应(接近100%). 这是由于FeN₃掺杂引入孤立的两条自旋向下能级,导致极强的电流极化. 同时,它们与自旋向下的不同子能带的耦合强度完全不同,导致体系呈现出负微分电导行为. 结果说明,通过FeN₃掺杂扶手椅型石墨烯纳米条带也可用于制备自旋电子学器件.     

Sulfur dioxide molecule sensors based on zigzag graphene nanoribbons with and without Cr dopant

Structure, electronic, and transport properties of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) molecule adsorbed on pure and Cr doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are investigated by means of first principle density functional theory and nonequilibrium Greenʼs function computations. It is found that Cr doped ZGNR is more sensitive to SO₂ molecule than pure ZGNR. The pure ZGNRs with and without SO₂ molecule show similar I–V curves, but the current of Cr doped ZGNR will significant increase after SO₂ molecule adsorption.     

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.     

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