Magnetic edge states and coherent manipulation of graphene nanoribbons

Magnetic edge states and coherent manipulation of graphene nanoribbons Full article

Journal

Nature
ISSN: 0028-0836 , E-ISSN: 1476-4687

Output data

Year: 2018, Volume: 557, Number: 7707, Pages: 691-+ Pages count : DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0154-7

Authors

Slota Michael ^1,2 , Keerthi Ashok ³ , Myers William K. ² , Tretyakov Evgeny ⁴ , Baumgarten Martin ³ , Ardavan Arzhang ^2,5 , Sadeghi Hatef ⁶ , Lambert Colin J. ⁶ , Narita Akimitsu ³ , Muellen Klaus ³ , Bogani Lapo ^1,2

Affiliations

1	(Данные Web of science) Univ Oxford, Dept Mat, Oxford, England
2	(Данные Web of science) Univ Oxford, Ctr Adv ESR, Oxford, England
3	(Данные Web of science) Max Planck Inst Polymer Res, Mainz, Germany
4	(Данные Web of science) NN Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Inst Organ Chem, Novosibirsk, Russia
5	(Данные Web of science) Univ Oxford, Clarendon Lab, Oxford, England
6	(Данные Web of science) Univ Lancaster, Phys Dept, Quantum Technol Ctr, Lancaster, England

Graphene, a single-layer network of carbon atoms, has outstanding electrical and mechanical properties(1). Graphene ribbons with nanometre-scale widths(2,3) (nanoribbons) should exhibit half-metallicity(4) and quantum confinement. Magnetic edges in graphene nanoribbons(5,6) have been studied extensively from a theoretical standpoint because their coherent manipulation would be a milestone for spintronic(7) and quantum computing devices(8). However, experimental investigations have been hampered because nanoribbon edges cannot be produced with atomic precision and the graphene terminations that have been proposed are chemically unstable(9). Here we address both of these problems, by using molecular graphene nanoribbons functionalized with stable spin-bearing radical groups. We observe the predicted delocalized magnetic edge states and test theoretical models of the spin dynamics and spin-environment interactions. Comparison with a non-graphitized reference material enables us to clearly identify the characteristic behaviour of the radical-functionalized graphene nanoribbons. We quantify the parameters of spin-orbit coupling, define the interaction patterns and determine the spin decoherence channels. Even without any optimization, the spin coherence time is in the range of microseconds at room temperature, and we perform quantum inversion operations between edge and radical spins. Our approach provides a way of testing the theory of magnetism in graphene nanoribbons experimentally. The coherence times that we observe open up encouraging prospects for the use of magnetic nanoribbons in quantum spintronic devices.

Slota M. , Keerthi A. , Myers W.K. , Tretyakov E. , Baumgarten M. , Ardavan A. , Sadeghi H. , Lambert C.J. , Narita A. , Muellen K. , Bogani L.
Magnetic edge states and coherent manipulation of graphene nanoribbons

Nature. 2018. V.557. N7707. P.691-+. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0154-7 WOS Scopus РИНЦ

Full text from publisher

Published print:	May 1, 2018
Published online:	May 30, 2018

Web of science	WOS:000433412900047
Scopus	2-s2.0-85048287801
Elibrary	41782025
OpenAlex	W2804178337