Song, Shaotang and Teng, Yu and Tang, Weichen and Xu, Zhen and He, Yuanyuan and Ruan, Jiawei and Kojima, Takahiro and Hu, Wenping and Giessibl, Franz J. and Sakaguchi, Hiroshi and Louie, Steven G. and Lu, Jiong (2025) Janus graphene nanoribbons with localized states on a single zigzag edge. NATURE, 637 (8046). ISSN 0028-0836, 1476-4687
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Topological design of pi electrons in zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) leads to a wealth of magnetic quantum phenomena and exotic quantum phases1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-10. Symmetric ZGNRs typically show antiferromagnetically coupled spin-ordered edge states1,2. Eliminating cross-edge magnetic coupling in ZGNRs not only enables the realization of a class of ferromagnetic quantum spin chains11, enabling the exploration of quantum spin physics and entanglement of multiple qubits in the one-dimensional limit3,12, but also establishes a long-sought-after carbon-based ferromagnetic transport channel, pivotal for ultimate scaling of GNR-based quantum electronics1, 2-3,9,13. Here we report a general approach for designing and fabricating such ferromagnetic GNRs in the form of Janus GNRs (JGNRs) with two distinct edge configurations. Guided by Lieb's theorem and topological classification theory14, 15-16, we devised two JGNRs by asymmetrically introducing a topological defect array of benzene motifs to one zigzag edge, while keeping the opposing zigzag edge unchanged. This breaks the structural symmetry and creates a sublattice imbalance within each unit cell, initiating a spin-symmetry breaking. Three Z-shaped precursors are designed to fabricate one parent ZGNR and two JGNRs with an optimal lattice spacing of the defect array for a complete quench of the magnetic edge states at the 'defective' edge. Characterization by scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy and first-principles density functional theory confirms the successful fabrication of JGNRs with a ferromagnetic ground-state localized along the pristine zigzag edge.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ON-SURFACE SYNTHESIS; SPIN; METALLICITY; GROWTH; |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 530 Physics |
| Divisions: | Physics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics > Chair Professor Giessibl > Group Franz J. Giessibl |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Apr 2026 12:30 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Apr 2026 12:30 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/67545 |
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