Cohesive‐Energy‐Resolved Bandgap of Nanoscale Graphene Derivatives

With a size‐dependent cohesive energy formula for two‐dimensional coordinated materials, the bandgap variation in quantum dots and nanoribbons of graphene derivatives, such as graphane, fluorographene and graphene oxides, is investigated. The bandgap is found to increase substantially as the diameter or width of the nano‐sized material decreases. The bandgap variation is attributed to the change in cohesive energy of edge carbon atoms, and is associated with the physicochemical nature and degree of edge saturation. These predictions agree with previously reported computer simulation results, and have potential application in wide‐band optics and optoelectronics.     

Effects of Edge Oxidation on the Stability and Half‐Metallicity of Graphene Quantum Dots

A comprehensive first‐principles theoretical study of the electronic properties and half‐metallic nature of zigzag edge‐oxidized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) is carried out by using density functional theory (DFT) with the screened exchange hybrid functional of Heyd, Scuseria and Ernzerhof (HSE06). The oxidation schemes include ‐OH, ‐COOH and ‐COO groups. We identify oxidized GQDs whose opposite spins are localized at the two zigzag edges in an antiferromagnetic‐type configuration, showing a spin‐polarized ground state. Oxidized GQDs are more stable than the corresponding fully hydrogenated GQDs. The partially hydroxylated and carboxylated GQDs with the same size exhibit half‐metallic state under almost the same electric‐field intensity whereas fully oxidized GQDs behave as spin‐selective semiconductors. The electric‐field intensity inducing the half metal increases with the length of the partially oxidized GQDs, ranging from M=4 to 7.     

Graphene nanoribbons from unzipped carbon nanotubes: atomic structures, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical properties

We investigated the atomic structures, Raman spectroscopic and electrical transport properties of individual graphene nanoribbons (GNRs, widths ~10-30 nm) derived from sonochemical unzipping of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed a high percentage of two-layer (2 L) GNRs and some single-layer ribbons. The layer-layer stacking angles ranged from 0° to 30° including average chiral angles near 30° (armchair orientation) or 0° (zigzag orientation). A large fraction of GNRs with bent and smooth edges was observed, while the rest showed flat and less smooth edges (roughness ≤1 nm). Polarized Raman spectroscopy probed individual GNRs to reveal D/G ratios and ratios of D band intensities at parallel and perpendicular laser excitation polarization (D(∥)/D(⊥)). The observed spectroscopic trends were used to infer the average chiral angles and edge smoothness of GNRs. Electrical transport and Raman measurements were carried out for individual ribbons to correlate spectroscopic and electrical properties of GNRs.     

Z形石墨带的电子输运性质: 形状与尺寸效应

基于格林函数方法及Landauer-Büttiker公式, 研究了纳米石墨带异质结的电子输运性质, 石墨带异质结由Z 形石墨带与两个锯齿型石墨带电极构成. 研究发现电导大小依赖其几何构型. 由于电子局域在锯齿型石墨带边缘, 因此在费米能级附近出现了电导隙或电导谷. 调节结间石墨带的宽度, 发现准束缚态的存在诱导许多尖锐的电导峰, 电导峰的数目几乎与结间的石墨带长度无关. 在低能区, 当θ为60°或150°时, 宽度均匀的Z型石墨带仍然保持弹道输运特征. 因此, Z形纳米石墨带可选择地应用于未来的纳微电路.     

Quenching of local magnetic moment in oxygen adsorbed graphene nanoribbons

The electronic and magnetic properties of oxidized zigzag and armchair graphene nanoribbons, with hydrogen passivated edges, have been investigated from ab initio pseudopotential calculations within the density functional scheme. The oxygen molecule in its triplet state is adsorbed most stably at the edge of a zigzag nanoribbon. The Stoner metallic behavior of the ferromagnetic nanoribbons and the Slater insulating (ground state) behavior of the antiferromagnetic nanoribbons remain intact upon oxygen adsorption. The formation of a spin-paired C-O bond drastically reduces the local atomic magnetic moment of carbon at the edge of the ferromagnetic zigzag ribbon.     

On‐Surface Synthesis of NBN‐Doped Zigzag‐Edged Graphene Nanoribbons

We report the first bottom‐up synthesis of NBN‐doped zigzag‐edged GNRs (NBN‐ZGNR1 and NBN‐ZGNR2) through surface‐assisted polymerization and cyclodehydrogenation based on two U‐shaped molecular precursors with an NBN unit preinstalled at the zigzag edge. The resultant zigzag‐edge topologies of GNRs are elucidated by high‐resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in combination with noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc‐AFM). Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the electronic structures of NBN‐ZGNR1 and NBN‐ZGNR2 are significantly different from those of their corresponding pristine fully‐carbon‐based ZGNRs. Additionally, DFT calculations predict that the electronic structures of NBN‐ZGNRs can be further tailored to be gapless and metallic through one‐electron oxidation of each NBN unit into the corresponding radical cations. This work reported herein provides a feasible strategy for the synthesis of GNRs with stable zigzag edges yet tunable electronic properties.     

Half-metallicity in graphene nanoribbons with topological defects at edge

We report first principles studies of zigzag edged graphene nanoribbons (ZGNR) with one edge partially covered by topological defects. With increasing coverage of an edge by pentagons and heptagons, which are two of the simplest topological defects possible in a graphenic lattice, ZGNRs evolve from a magnetic semiconductor to a ferromagnetic metal. This evolution can be intermediated by a narrow bandgap half-metallic phase, upon suitable concentration and conformation of defects at the edge. Spin-frustration induced by topological defects lead to substantial lowering of magnetic ordering and localization of defect-states in the vicinity of the defects. Dispersion of bands constituted by the defect-states within the bandgap of the corresponding unmodified ZGNR, leads to availability of energy windows for spin-polarized electron transport. Driven primarily by exchange interactions, the energy window for transport of electrons near Fermi energy, is consistently wider and more prevalent for the minority spin, in the entire class of ZGNRs with discontinuous patches of topological defects at an edge. Such defects have been widely predicted and observed to be naturally present at the interfaces in polycrystalline graphene, and can even be formed through chemical and physical processes. Our approach thus may lead to a feasible strategy to manifest workable half-metallicity in ZGNRs without involving non-carbon dopants or functional groups.     

Relationship Between Stress Modulated Metallicity and Plasmon in Graphene Nanoribbons

Nanoscale quantum plasmon is an important technology that restricts the application of optics, electricity, and graphene photoelectric devices. Establishing a structure–effect relationship between the structure of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) under stress regulation and the properties of plasmons is a key scientific issue for promoting the application of plasmons in micro-nano photoelectric devices. In this study, zigzag graphene nanoribbon (Z-GNR) and armchair graphene nanoribbon (A-GNR) models of specific widths were constructed, and density functional theory (DFT) was used to study their lattice structure, energy band, absorption spectrum, and plasmon effects under different stresses. The results showed that the Z-GNR band gap decreased with increasing stress, and the A-GNR band gap changed periodically with increasing stress. The plasmon effects of the A-GNRs and Z-GNRs appeared in the visible region, whereas the absorption spectrum showed a redshift trend, indicating the range of the plasmon spectrum also underwent significant changes. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of graphene nanoribbons in the field of optoelectronics under strain-engineering conditions.     

Recent Progress and Challenges in Graphene Nanoribbon Synthesis

Graphene, the thinnest two‐dimensional material in nature, has abundant distinctive properties, such as ultrahigh carrier mobility, superior thermal conductivity, very high surface‐to‐volume ratio, anomalous quantum Hall effect, and so on. Laterally confined, thin, and long strips of graphene, namely, graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), can open the bandgap in the semimetal and give it the potential to replace silicon in future electronics. Great efforts are devoted to achieving high‐quality GNRs with narrow widths and smooth edges. This minireview reports the latest progress in experimental and theoretical studies on GNR synthesis. Different methods of GNR synthesis—unzipping of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), cutting of graphene, and the direct synthesis of GNRs—are discussed, and their advantages and disadvantages are compared in detail. Current challenges and the prospects in this rapidly developing field are also addressed.     

On-Surface Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Laterally Extended Chevron Graphene Nanoribbons

We report the on-surface synthesis and spectroscopic study of laterally extended chevron graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and compare them with the established chevron GNRs, emphasizing the consistency of bandgap reduction of semiconducting GNRs with increased width. The laterally extended chevron GNRs grown on Au(111) exhibit a bandgap of about 2.2 eV, which is considerably smaller than the values reported for chevron GNRs in similar studies.     

Graphene‐like Molecules with Four Zigzag Edges

An efficient synthetic method toward graphene‐like molecules (GLMs), having four zigzag edges, is described. They were obtained as stable materials and their structures were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. They exhibit topology‐ and size‐dependent electronic properties and global aromaticity, which are all different from GLMs having either all‐armchair edges, or three zigzag edges, or two armchair/two zigzag edges. They can be reversibly oxidized and reduced into stable charged species, which show fragmental aromatic character to minimize anti‐aromaticity. Our studies give some new insights into the electronic structures and properties of a new type of rarely studied GLMs.     

Magnetism in Nonplanar Zigzag Edge Termini of Graphene Nanoribbons

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and nanographenes synthesized by on-surface reactions using tailor-made molecular precursors offer an ideal playground for a study of magnetism towards nano-spintronics. Although the zigzag edge of GNRs has been known to host magnetism, the underlying metal substrates usually veil the edge-induced Kondo effect. Here, we report the on-surface synthesis of unprecedented, π-extended 7-armchair GNRs using 7-bromo-12-(10-bromoanthracen-9-yl)tetraphene as the precursor. Characterization by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy revealed unique rearrangement reactions leading to pentagon- or pentagon/heptagon-incorporated, nonplanar zigzag termini, which demonstrated Kondo resonances even on bare Au(111). Density functional theory calculations indicate that the nonplanar structure significantly reduces the interaction between the zigzag terminus and the Au(111) surface, leading to a recovery of the spin localization of the zigzag edge. Such a distortion of planar GNR structures offers a degree of freedom to control the magnetism on metal substrates.     

How do aryl groups attach to a graphene sheet?

How aryl groups attach to a graphene sheet is an experimentally unanswered question. Using first principles density functional theory methods, we shed light on this problem. For the basal plane, isolated phenyl groups are predicted to be weakly bonded to the graphene sheet, even though a new single C-C bond is formed between the phenyl group and the basal plane by converting a sp2-carbon in the graphene sheet to sp3. However, the interaction can be strengthened significantly with two phenyl groups attached to the para positions of the same six-membered ring to form a pair on the basal plane. The strongest bonding is found at the graphene edges. A 1,2-addition pair is predicted to be most stable for the armchair edge, whereas the zigzag edge possesses a unique localized state near the Fermi level that shows a high affinity for the phenyl group.     

Transition metal surface passivation induced graphene edge reconstruction

In vacuum, the bare zigzag (zz) edge of graphene is reconstructed into a line of pentagon-heptagon pairs, while the pristine armchair (ac) edge is retained. Our first-principle explorations of graphene edges on three metal surfaces [Cu(111), Co(111), and Ni(111)] indicate an opposite tendency, that is, the pristine zz edge is energetically favorable and the reconstructed ac edge with dangling C atoms is highly stable on Co(111) and Ni(111) surfaces. Insightful analysis shows that passivation of the graphene edge by metal surfaces is responsible for the dramatic differences. Beyond this, the unique edge configuration has a significant impact on the graphene CVD growth behavior.     

褶皱石墨带的电子输运性质

利用递推格林函数方法,我们研究了褶皱石墨带的电子输运性质.当石墨带具有褶皱时,对于锯齿型石墨带,在第一个范霍夫奇点内,发现了电导隙和伴随着电导振荡的微带.然而,对于金属性扶手型石墨带,在费米能附近仅发现了电导隙,说明扶手型石墨带发生了金属-半导体转变.随着石墨带的褶皱加强,无论是锯齿型还是扶手型石墨带,平均电导都逐渐减小,并趋于0.结果有利于我们理解真实构型石墨带的电子输运性质,并且有助于设计基于石墨带的纳米器件.     

Density functional study of the reaction of carbon surface oxides: the behavior of ketones

The reactions of a ketone surface oxide group have been studied on two forms of the zigzag edge and the armchair edge of a model char using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Rearrangement and surface migration reactions were found to occur much more rapidly than desorption reactions on both the zigzag and armchair edges. A number of desorption pathways characterized here go some way toward explaining the experimentally observed broad activation energy profile for CO desorption. Three separate desorption processes were characterized; on the zigzag surface two were found with activation energies of 275 and 367 kJ mol(-1), while on the armchair surface one was found with an activation energy of 296 kJ mol(-1). The activation energies for these processes were found to be insensitive to increasing the size of the char fragment. On a larger char fragment, however, an extra desorption process was found to be possible, with an activation energy of 160 kJ mol(-1).     

Theory of nitrogen doping of carbon nanoribbons: edge effects

Nitrogen doping of a carbon nanoribbon is profoundly affected by its one-dimensional character, symmetry, and interaction with edge states. Using state-of-the-art ab initio calculations, including hybrid exact-exchange density functional theory, we find that, for N-doped zigzag ribbons, the electronic properties are strongly dependent upon sublattice effects due to the non-equivalence of the two sublattices. For armchair ribbons, N-doping effects are different depending upon the ribbon family: for families 2 and 0, the N-induced levels are in the conduction band, while for family 1 the N levels are in the gap. In zigzag nanoribbons, nitrogen close to the edge is a deep center, while in armchair nanoribbons its behavior is close to an effective-mass-like donor with the ionization energy dependent on the value of the band gap. In chiral nanoribbons, we find strong dependence of the impurity level and formation energy upon the edge position of the dopant, while such site-specificity is not manifested in the magnitude of the magnetization.     

Magnetocatalytic Graphene Quantum Dots Janus Micromotors for Bacterial Endotoxin Detection

Magnetocatalytic hybrid Janus micromotors encapsulating phenylboronic acid (PABA) modified graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are described herein as ultrafast sensors for the detection of deadly bacteria endotoxins. A bottom‐up approach was adopted to synthesize an oil‐in‐water emulsion containing the GQDs along with a high loading of platinum and iron oxide nanoparticles on one side of the Janus micromotor body. The two different “active regions” enable highly efficient propulsion in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or magnetic actuation without the addition of a chemical fuel. Fluorescence quenching was observed upon the interaction of GQDs with the target endotoxin (LPS), whereby the PABA tags acted as highly specific recognition receptors of the LPS core polysaccharide region. Such adaptive hybrid operation and highly specific detection hold considerable promise for diverse clinical, agrofood, and biological applications and integration in future lab‐on‐chip technology.