Growth Optimization and Device Integration of Narrow-Bandgap Graphene Nanoribbons

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Gabriela Borin Barin - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Qiang Sun - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Shanghai University (Author)
  • Marco Di Giovannantonio - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), National Research Council of Italy (CNR) (Author)
  • Cheng Zhuo Du - , Nankai University (Author)
  • Xiao Ye Wang - , Nankai University (Author)
  • Juan Pablo Llinas - , University of California at Berkeley (Author)
  • Zafer Mutlu - , University of California at Berkeley (Author)
  • Yuxuan Lin - , University of California at Berkeley (Author)
  • Jan Wilhelm - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Jan Overbeck - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Colin Daniels - , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Author)
  • Michael Lamparski - , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Author)
  • Hafeesudeen Sahabudeen - , Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed) (Author)
  • Mickael L. Perrin - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • José I. Urgel - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia) (Author)
  • Shantanu Mishra - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), IBM (Author)
  • Amogh Kinikar - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Roland Widmer - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Samuel Stolz - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), University of California at Berkeley (Author)
  • Max Bommert - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Carlo Pignedoli - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Xinliang Feng - , Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed) (Author)
  • Michel Calame - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)
  • Klaus Müllen - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Author)
  • Akimitsu Narita - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (Author)
  • Vincent Meunier - , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Author)
  • Jeffrey Bokor - , University of California at Berkeley (Author)
  • Roman Fasel - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), University of Bern (Author)
  • Pascal Ruffieux - , Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) (Author)

Abstract

The electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) can be engineered by controlling their edge structure and width with atomic precision through bottom-up fabrication based on molecular precursors. This approach offers a unique platform for all-carbon electronic devices but requires careful optimization of the growth conditions to match structural requirements for successful device integration, with GNR length being the most critical parameter. In this work, the growth, characterization, and device integration of 5-atom wide armchair GNRs (5-AGNRs) are studied, which are expected to have an optimal bandgap as active material in switching devices. 5-AGNRs are obtained via on-surface synthesis under ultrahigh vacuum conditions from Br- and I-substituted precursors. It is shown that the use of I-substituted precursors and the optimization of the initial precursor coverage quintupled the average 5-AGNR length. This significant length increase allowed the integration of 5-AGNRs into devices and the realization of the first field-effect transistor based on narrow bandgap AGNRs that shows switching behavior at room temperature. The study highlights that the optimized growth protocols can successfully bridge between the sub-nanometer scale, where atomic precision is needed to control the electronic properties, and the scale of tens of nanometers relevant for successful device integration of GNRs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2202301
JournalSmall
Volume18
Issue number31
Publication statusPublished - 4 Aug 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • field-effect transistors, graphene nanoribbons, on-surface synthesis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, temperature-programmed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy