Exceptionally clean single-electron transistors from solutions of molecular graphene nanoribbons

Abstract

Only single-electron transistors with a certain level of cleanliness, where all states can be properly accessed, can be used for quantum experiments. To reveal their exceptional properties, carbon nanomaterials need to be stripped down to a single element: graphene has been exfoliated into a single sheet, and carbon nanotubes can reveal their vibrational, spin and quantum coherence properties only after being suspended across trenches1–3. Molecular graphene nanoribbons4–6 now provide carbon nanostructures with single-atom precision but suffer from poor solubility, similar to carbon nanotubes. Here we demonstrate the massive enhancement of the solubility of graphene nanoribbons by edge functionalization, to yield ultra-clean transport devices with sharp single-electron features. Strong electron–vibron coupling leads to a prominent Franck–Condon blockade, and the atomic definition of the edges allows identifying the associated transverse bending mode. These results demonstrate how molecular graphene can yield exceptionally clean electronic devices directly from solution. The sharpness of the electronic features opens a path to the exploitation of spin and vibrational properties in atomically precise graphene nanostructures.

Porphyrin-Fused Graphene Nanoribbons

“…6a,b). These devices were fabricated from electro-burnt graphene nanogaps, as described previously [47][48][49] . At room temperature (T = 300 K), the devices behave as field-effect transistors with a clearly observable bandgap and mild p-doping in most cases.…”

Conjugated Polymers: Where We Come From, Where We Stand, and Where We Might Go

“…Instead, anthracene units were connected to the GNR cores via alkanediyl spacers and subjected to a further Diels-Alder cycloaddition with alkyl maleimides; thus; furnishing a highly irregular, flexible substitution type. [86] Scheme 6. Schematic synthetic routes to a) 7-AGNR, [76] b) 9-AGNR, [77] and c) 5-AGNR.…”

Photoresponse of Solution-Synthesized Graphene Nanoribbon Heterojunctions on Diamond Indicating Phototunable Photodiode Polarity

“…Toward real-world applications, it is essential to render fabrication of GNRHs compatible with device integration. In this regard, two types of synthetic methods have been developed, so-called on-surface ,− and solution synthesis. ,− Liquid-phase synthetic methods facilitate processing of structurally defined GNRs assisted by long alkyl chains for dispersion in organic solvents, ,,,,, thereby enabling direct deposition on device interfaces . Thus-synthesized GNRs can be assembled from the liquid phase on insulating surfaces ,, without the need for transfer techniques. ,,− However, the technological relevance of atomic precision, which is omnipresent in the investigation of on-surface approaches, , remains to be explored in solution-synthesized GNRs, particularly via self-assembly on atomically flat device interfaces.…”