Scalable fabrication of graphene nanoribbon quantum dot devices with stable orbital-level spacing

Abstract

Large-scale integration of quantum-dot devices is essential for realizing various quantum devices. Graphene-based quantum dots provide a promising platform for spin qubits because of their low nuclear spin density and weak spin-orbit interaction. However, the integration of graphene-based quantum dots remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate the scalable fabrication of graphene nanoribbon-based quantum-dot devices using a nickel nanobar technique. Fine structures formed in the middle of the nanoribbons exhibit quantum-dot behavior, and more than 56% of devices fabricated on the same substrate show Coulomb diamond features, indicating that large-scale integration of graphene nanoribbon quantum-dot devices is possible with our method. Cryogenic measurements reveal orbital-level spacings between the ground and excited states that are stable up to high-temperature conditions of ~20 K. We explain this stability in terms of the very fine structures formed in the middle of the nanoribbons and their relatively low effective mass.