Giant edge state splitting at atomically precise graphene zigzag edges
Wang S, Talirz L, Pignedoli CA, Feng X, Muellen K, Fasel R, Ruffieux P (2016)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2016
Journal
Book Volume: 7
Article Number: 11507
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11507
Abstract
Zigzag edges of graphene nanostructures host localized electronic states that are predicted to be spin-polarized. However, these edge states are highly susceptible to edge roughness and interaction with a supporting substrate, complicating the study of their intrinsic electronic and magnetic structure. Here, we focus on atomically precise graphene nanoribbons whose two short zigzag edges host exactly one localized electron each. Using the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope, the graphene nanoribbons are transferred from the metallic growth substrate onto insulating islands of NaCl in order to decouple their electronic structure from the metal. The absence of charge transfer and hybridization with the substrate is confirmed by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, which reveals a pair of occupied/unoccupied edge states. Their large energy splitting of 1.9 eV is in accordance with ab initio many-body perturbation theory calculations and reflects the dominant role of electron-electron interactions in these localized states.
Involved external institutions
Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa) / Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology
Switzerland (CH)
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung (MPI-P) / Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
Germany (DE)
Switzerland (CH)
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung (MPI-P) / Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Wang, S., Talirz, L., Pignedoli, C.A., Feng, X., Muellen, K., Fasel, R., & Ruffieux, P. (2016). Giant edge state splitting at atomically precise graphene zigzag edges. Nature Communications, 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11507
MLA:
Wang, Shiyong, et al. "Giant edge state splitting at atomically precise graphene zigzag edges." Nature Communications 7 (2016).
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