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Tailoring the atomic structure of graphene nanoribbons by scanning tunnelling microscope lithography

Nature Nanotechnology volume 3, pages 397–401 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The practical realization of nanoscale electronics faces two major challenges: the precise engineering of the building blocks and their assembly into functional circuits1. In spite of the exceptional electronic properties of carbon nanotubes2, only basic demonstration devices have been realized that require time-consuming processes3,4,5. This is mainly due to a lack of selective growth and reliable assembly processes for nanotubes. However, graphene offers an attractive alternative. Here we report the patterning of graphene nanoribbons and bent junctions with nanometre-precision, well-defined widths and predetermined crystallographic orientations, allowing us to fully engineer their electronic structure using scanning tunnelling microscope lithography. The atomic structure and electronic properties of the ribbons have been investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy and tunnelling spectroscopy measurements. Opening of confinement gaps up to 0.5 eV, enabling room-temperature operation of graphene nanoribbon-based devices, is reported. This method avoids the difficulties of assembling nanoscale components and may prove useful in the realization of complete integrated circuits, operating as room-temperature ballistic electronic devices6,7.

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Figure 1: Graphene nanostructures patterned by STM lithography.
Figure 2: Atomic structure of GNRs.
Figure 3: Electronic structure of GNRs.
Figure 4: Tight-binding computation of the STM image of GNRs.
Figure 5: GNRs for room-temperature electronics.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in Hungary by OTKA (Országos Tudományos Kutatási Alapprogramok) grant 67851 and OTKA-NKTH (Nemzeti Kutatási és Technológiai Hivatal) grant K67793.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, Budapest, H-1525, Hungary

    Levente Tapasztó, Gergely Dobrik & László P. Biró

  2. Facultes Universitaire Notre Dame de la Paix, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, Namur, B-5000, Belgium

    Philippe Lambin

Authors
  1. Levente Tapasztó
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  2. Gergely Dobrik
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  3. Philippe Lambin
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  4. László P. Biró
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Contributions

L.T. conceived the experiments. L.T. and G.D. performed the experiments. L.T., P.L. and L.P.B. analysed the data. L.T. wrote the paper. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Levente Tapasztó.

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Tapasztó, L., Dobrik, G., Lambin, P. et al. Tailoring the atomic structure of graphene nanoribbons by scanning tunnelling microscope lithography. Nature Nanotech 3, 397–401 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.149

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