Tuning charge and spin excitations in zigzag edge nanographene ribbons

Carbon-based nanostructures as a versatile platform for tunableπ-magnetism

Emergence ofπ-magnetism in open-shell nanographenes has been theoretically predicted decades ago but their experimental characterization was elusive due to the strong chemical reactivity that makes their synthesis and stabilization difficult. In recent years, on-surface synthesis under vacuum conditions has provided unprecedented opportunities for atomically precise engineering of nanographenes, which in combination with scanning probe techniques have led to a substantial progress in our capabilities to realize localized electron spin states and to control electron spin interactions at the atomic scale. Here we review the essential concepts and the remarkable advances in the last few years, and outline the versatility of carbon-basedπ-magnetic materials as an interesting platform for applications in spintronics and quantum technologies.

Band Structure and Energy Level Alignment of Chiral Graphene Nanoribbons on Silver Surfaces

Chiral graphene nanoribbons are extremely interesting structures due to their narrow band gaps and potential development of spin-polarized edge states. Here, we study their band structure on low work function silver surfaces. The use of a curved Ag single crystal provides, within the same sample, regions of disparate step structure and step density. Whereas the former leads to distinct azimuthal growth orientations of the graphene nanoribbons atop, the latter modulates the substrate's work function and thereby the interface energy level alignment. In turn, we disclose the associated charge transfer from the substrate to the ribbon and assess its effect on the nanoribbon's properties and the edge state magnetization.

Topologically Protected Correlated End Spin Formation in Carbon Nanotubes

For most chiralities, semiconducting nanotubes display topologically protected end states of multiple degeneracies. We demonstrate using density matrix renormalization group based quantum chemistry tools that the presence of Coulomb interactions induces the formation of robust end spins. These are the close analogs of ferromagnetic edge states emerging in graphene nanoribbons. The interaction between the two ends is sensitive to the length of the nanotube, its dielectric constant, and the size of the end spins: for S=1/2 end spins, their interaction is antiferromagnetic, while for S>1/2, it changes from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic as the nanotube length increases. The interaction between end spins can be controlled by changing the dielectric constant of the environment, thereby providing a possible platform for two-spin quantum manipulations.

Extending the Photovoltaic Response of Perovskite Solar Cells into the Near-Infrared with a Narrow-Bandgap Organic Semiconductor

Typical lead-based perovskites solar cells show an onset of photogeneration around 800 nm, leaving plenty of spectral loss in the near-infrared (NIR). Extending light absorption beyond 800 nm into the NIR should increase photocurrent generation and further improve photovoltaic efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, a simple and facile approach is reported to incorporate a NIR-chromophore that is also a Lewis-base into perovskite absorbers to broaden their photoresponse and increase their photovoltaic efficiency. Compared with pristine PSCs without such an organic chromophore, these solar cells generate photocurrent in the NIR beyond the band edge of the perovskite active layer alone. Given the Lewis-basic nature of the organic semiconductor, its addition to the photoactive layer also effectively passivates perovskite defects. These films thus exhibit significantly reduced trap densities, enhanced hole and electron mobilities, and suppressed illumination-induced ion migration. As a consequence, perovskite solar cells with organic chromophore exhibit an enhanced efficiency of 21.6%, and substantively improved operational stability under continuous one-sun illumination. The results demonstrate the potential generalizability of directly incorporating a multifunctional organic semiconductor that both extends light absorption and passivates surface traps in perovskite active layers to yield highly efficient and stable NIR-harvesting PSCs.

Emerging chemical strategies for imprinting magnetism in graphene and related 2D materials for spintronic and biomedical applications

Graphene, a single two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms with an arrangement mimicking the honeycomb hexagonal architecture, has captured immense interest of the scientific community since its isolation in 2004. Besides its extraordinarily high electrical conductivity and surface area, graphene shows a long spin lifetime and limited hyperfine interactions, which favors its potential exploitation in spintronic and biomedical applications, provided it can be made magnetic. However, pristine graphene is diamagnetic in nature due to solely sp2 hybridization. Thus, various attempts have been proposed to imprint magnetic features into graphene. The present review focuses on a systematic classification and physicochemical description of approaches leading to equip graphene with magnetic properties. These include introduction of point and line defects into graphene lattices, spatial confinement and edge engineering, doping of graphene lattice with foreign atoms, and sp3 functionalization. Each magnetism-imprinting strategy is discussed in detail including identification of roles of various internal and external parameters in the induced magnetic regimes, with assessment of their robustness. Moreover, emergence of magnetism in graphene analogues and related 2D materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides, metal halides, metal dinitrides, MXenes, hexagonal boron nitride, and other organic compounds is also reviewed. Since the magnetic features of graphene can be readily masked by the presence of magnetic residues from synthesis itself or sample handling, the issue of magnetic impurities and correct data interpretations is also addressed. Finally, current problems and challenges in magnetism of graphene and related 2D materials and future potential applications are also highlighted.

Bias induced ferromagnetism and half-metallicity in graphene nano-ribbons

Towards spin selective electronics made of three coordinated carbon atoms, here we computationally propose robust and reversibly bias driven evolution of pristine undoped graphene nano-ribbons(GNR) into ferromagnetic-semiconductor, metal or a half metal, irrespective of their edge configurations. The evolution is a result of a rare ferromagnetic(FM) order emerging among nearest neighbouring(n-n) sites, in positively biased regions in their in-homogeneous bias unit-cells, in attempt to cooperatively minimise on-site Coulomb repulsion and kinetic energy, while maximising localization of electrons at the positively biased sites. The phenomenon appears to be a general property of in-homogeneously biased Coulomb correlated bipartite systems. Consequences are particularly rich in zigzag edged graphene nano-ribbons(ZGNR) due to the contest of bias driven n-n FM order and the inter-edge antiferromagnetic order inherent to ZGNRs, leading to systematic closing of gap for one of the spins, amounting to bias controlled unmissable opening of window for FM-semiconducting and half-metallic transport.

Rapid Access to Nanographenes and Fused Heteroaromatics by Palladium-Catalyzed Annulative π-Extension Reaction of Unfunctionalized Aromatics with Diiodobiaryls

Efficient and rapid access to nanographenes and π-extended fused heteroaromatics is important in materials science. Herein, we report a palladium-catalyzed efficient one-step annulative π-extension (APEX) reaction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heteroaromatics, producing various π-extended aromatics. In the presence of a cationic Pd complex, triflic acid, silver pivalate, and diiodobiaryls, diverse unfunctionalized PAHs and heteroaromatics were directly transformed into larger PAHs, nanographenes, and π-extended fused heteroaromatics in a single step. In the reactions that afford [5]helicene substructures, simultaneous dehydrogenative ring closures occur at the fjord regions to form unprecedented larger nanographenes. This successive APEX reaction is notable as it stiches five aryl-aryl bonds by C-H functionalization in a single operation. Moreover, the unique molecular structures, crystal-packing structures, photophysical properties, and frontier molecular orbitals of the thus-formed nanographenes were elucidated.

Semiconducting Self-Assembled Nanofibers Prepared from Photostable Octafluorinated Bisanthene Derivatives

Bisanthene is an important class of small two-dimensional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbon character. Therefore, the functionalization and deep understanding of the structure-property relationship of bisanthene would provide an effective design for small organic molecular devices. In this study, octa- and tetrafluorinated bisanthene derivatives were synthesized for investigating the effect of electronegative fluorine substitution on the structure and physical property of bisanthene. Firstly, the octafluorinated bisanthene derivative has a twisted structure due to the steric repulsion of fluorine atoms at the bay region. Secondly, the absorption and fluorescence peak maxima are blueshifted with an increase in the degree of fluorine substitution. Notably, a triisopropylsilylethynyl-substituted octafluorinated derivative (F8) exhibited strong fluorescence at 657 nm with high fluorescence quantum yield (84 %). Additionally, cyclic voltammograms indicate the positive effect of fluorine substitution on the high highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of the molecules; thus, F8 molecule exhibited a remarkably increased photostability. Finally, the self-assembled behavior of fluorinated compounds was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Specifically, F8 self-assembled to form bundles of long semicrystalline nanofibers exhibiting hole-transporting properties (3.4×10^-3  cm²  V^-1  s^-1 ).

Edge magnetism of Heisenberg model on honeycomb lattice

Edge magnetism in graphene sparks intense theoretical and experimental interests. In the previous study, we demonstrated the existence of collective excitations at the zigzag edge of the honeycomb lattice with long-ranged Néel order. By employing the Schwinger-boson approach, we show that the edge magnons remain robust even when the long-ranged order is destroyed by spin fluctuations. Furthermore, in the effective field-theory limit, the dynamics of the edge magnon is captured by the one-dimensional relativistic Klein-Gordon equation. It is intriguing that the boundary field theory for the edge magnon is tied up with its bulk counterpart. By performing density-matrix renormalization group calculations, we show that the robustness may be attributed to the closeness between the ground state and the Néel state. The existence of edge magnon is not limited to the honeycomb structure, as demonstrated in the rotated-square lattice with zigzag edges as well. The universal behavior indicates that the edge magnons may attribute to the uncompensated edges and can be detected in many two-dimensional materials.

Edge state magnetism in zigzag-interfaced graphene via spin susceptibility measurements

Development of graphene spintronic devices relies on transforming it into a material with a spin order. Attempts to make graphene magnetic by introducing zigzag edge states have failed due to energetically unstable structure of torn zigzag edges. Here, we report on the formation of nanoridges, i.e., stable crystallographically oriented fluorine monoatomic chains, and provide experimental evidence for strongly coupled magnetic states at the graphene-fluorographene interfaces. From the first principle calculations, the spins at the localized edge states are ferromagnetically ordered within each of the zigzag interface whereas the spin interaction across a nanoridge is antiferromagnetic. Magnetic susceptibility data agree with this physical picture and exhibit behaviour typical of quantum spin-ladder system with ferromagnetic legs and antiferromagnetic rungs. The exchange coupling constant along the rungs is measured to be 450 K. The coupling is strong enough to consider graphene with fluorine nanoridges as a candidate for a room temperature spintronics material.

Magnetization due to localized states on graphene grain boundary

Magnetism in graphene has been found to originate from various defects, e.g., vacancy, edge formation, add-atoms etc. Here, we discuss about an alternate route of achieving magnetism in graphene via grain boundary. During chemical vapor deposition of graphene, several graphene nucleation centers grow independently and face themselves with unusual bonding environment, giving rise to the formation of grain boundaries. We investigate the origin of magnetism in such grain boundaries within first-principles calculations, by letting two nucleation centers interact with each other at their interface. We observe formation of unprecedented point defect, consisting of fused three-membered and larger carbon rings, which induces net magnetization to graphene quantum dots. In case of periodic lattices, the appearance of array of point defects leads to the formation of magnetic grain boundaries. The net magnetization on these defects arises due to the deviation from bipartite characteristics of pristine graphene. We observe magnetic grain boundary induced dispersion less flat bands near Fermi energy, showing higher localization of electrons. These flat bands can be accessed via small doping, leading to enhanced magnetism. Moreover, the grain boundaries can induce asymmetric spin conduction behavior along the cross boundary direction. These properties can be exploited for sensor and spin-filtering applications.

Antisolvent diffusion-induced growth, equilibrium behaviours in aqueous solution and optical properties of CH3NH3PbI3 single crystals for photovoltaic applications

Antisolvent diffusion-induced growth, equilibrium behaviours in aqueous solution and optical properties of CH₃NH₃PbI₃ single crystals.

Hole-Conductor-Free, Metal-Electrode-Free TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3 Heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Low-Temperature Carbon Electrode

Low cost, high efficiency, and stability are straightforward research challenges in the development of organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Organolead halide is unstable at high temperatures or in some solvents. The direct preparation of a carbon layer on top becomes difficult. In this study, we successfully prepared full solution-processed low-cost TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3 heterojunction (HJ) solar cells based on a low-temperature carbon electrode. Power conversion efficiency of mesoporous (M-)TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/C HJ solar cells based on a low-temperature-processed carbon electrode achieved 9%. The devices of M-TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/C HJ solar cells without encapsulation exhibited advantageous stability (over 2000 h) in air in the dark. The ability to process low-cost carbon electrodes at low temperature on top of the CH3NH3PbI3 layer without destroying its structure reduces the cost and simplifies the fabrication process of perovskite HJ solar cells. This ability also provides higher flexibility to choose and optimize the device, as well as investigate the underlying active layers.

Lattice-oriented catalytic growth of graphene nanoribbons on heteroepitaxial nickel films

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are a promising material for electronic applications, because quantum confinement in a one-dimensional nanostructure can potentially open the band gap of graphene. However, it is still a challenge to synthesize high-quality GNRs by a bottom-up approach without relying on lithographic techniques. In this work, we demonstrate lattice-oriented catalytic growth of single-layer GNRs on the surface of a heteroepitaxial Ni film. Catalytic decomposition of a poly(methyl methacrylate) film on the Ni(100) film at 1000 °C gives narrow nanoribbons with widths of 20-30 nm, which are aligned along either [011] or [011] directions of the Ni lattice. Furthermore, low-energy electron microscope (LEEM) analysis reveals that orientation of carbon hexagons in these GNRs is highly controlled by the underlying Ni(100) lattice, leading to the formation of zigzag edges. This heteroepitaxial approach would pave a way to synthesize nanoribbons with controlled orientation for future development of electronic devices based on graphene nanostructures.

Edge-states in graphene nanoribbons: a combined spectroscopy and transport study

Graphene structures of finite size are expected to reveal exceptional electronic and magnetic properties which are highly attractive for future nano-technological applications. In this study we have looked at the edge-states in graphene nanoribbons (GNR) grown by self-assembly on mesa structured SiC(0001) templates. By means of a 4-tip STM/SEM system, both local spectroscopy and lateral transport have been performed in situ on the same nanostructures. The conductance in these structures was found to be e(2)/h for temperatures up to 400 K. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy clearly reveals edge-localized states on these ribbons. The local bonding of these ribbons to their support turns out to be essential in order to preserve the metallicity of the edge-states.