Engineered electronic states in atomically precise artificial lattices and graphene nanoribbons

Linghao Yan,Peter Liljeroth

doi:10.1080/23746149.2019.1651672

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe fabrication of atomically precise structures with designer electronic properties is one of the emerging topics in condensed matter physics. The required level of structural control can either be reached through atomic manipulation using the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) or by bottom-up chemical synthesis. In this review, we focus on recent progress in constructing novel, atomically precise artificial materials: artificial lattices built through atom manipulation and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) realized by on-surface synthesis. We summarize the required theoretical background and the latest experiments on artificial lattices, topological states in one-dimensional lattices, experiments on graphene nanoribbons and graphene nanoribbon heterostructures, and topological states in graphene nanoribbons. Finally, we conclude our review with an outlook to designer quantum materials with engineered electronic structure.

Highlights

Creating and studying nanostructures where each atom is in a well-defined, pre-determined position is currently being vigorously pursued within condensed-matter physics and materials chemistry research communities
The required level of structural control can either be reached through atomic manipulation using the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) or by bottom-up chemical synthesis
We focus on recent progress in constructing novel, atomically precise artificial materials: artificial lattices built through atom manipulation and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) realized by on-surface synthesis

Summary

Introduction

Creating and studying nanostructures where each atom is in a well-defined, pre-determined position is currently being vigorously pursued within condensed-matter physics and materials chemistry research communities. These are part of the growing field of on-surface synthesis, which includes, for example, the formation of metal-organic networks with controlled lattice structures [22–24] and chemical synthesis of atomically well-defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) based on molecular precursors [25–27].

Results

Conclusion