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Engineering of robust topological quantum phases in graphene nanoribbons

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver Gröning

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)

  • Shiyong Wang

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
    School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Xuelin Yao

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Carlo A. Pignedoli

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)

  • Gabriela Borin Barin

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)

  • Colin Daniels

    (Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

  • Andrew Cupo

    (Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

  • Vincent Meunier

    (Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

  • Xinliang Feng

    (Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Akimitsu Narita

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Klaus Müllen

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Pascal Ruffieux

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)

  • Roman Fasel

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
    University of Bern)

Abstract

Boundaries between distinct topological phases of matter support robust, yet exotic quantum states such as spin–momentum locked transport channels or Majorana fermions1–3. The idea of using such states in spintronic devices or as qubits in quantum information technology is a strong driver of current research in condensed matter physics4–6. The topological properties of quantum states have helped to explain the conductivity of doped trans-polyacetylene in terms of dispersionless soliton states7–9. In their seminal paper, Su, Schrieffer and Heeger (SSH) described these exotic quantum states using a one-dimensional tight-binding model10,11. Because the SSH model describes chiral topological insulators, charge fractionalization and spin–charge separation in one dimension, numerous efforts have been made to realize the SSH Hamiltonian in cold-atom, photonic and acoustic experimental configurations12–14. It is, however, desirable to rationally engineer topological electronic phases into stable and processable materials to exploit the corresponding quantum states. Here we present a flexible strategy based on atomically precise graphene nanoribbons to design robust nanomaterials exhibiting the valence electronic structures described by the SSH Hamiltonian15–17. We demonstrate the controlled periodic coupling of topological boundary states18 at junctions of graphene nanoribbons with armchair edges to create quasi-one-dimensional trivial and non-trivial electronic quantum phases. This strategy has the potential to tune the bandwidth of the topological electronic bands close to the energy scale of proximity-induced spin–orbit coupling19 or superconductivity20, and may allow the realization of Kitaev-like Hamiltonians3 and Majorana-type end states21.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Gröning & Shiyong Wang & Xuelin Yao & Carlo A. Pignedoli & Gabriela Borin Barin & Colin Daniels & Andrew Cupo & Vincent Meunier & Xinliang Feng & Akimitsu Narita & Klaus Müllen & Pascal Ruffieu, 2018. "Engineering of robust topological quantum phases in graphene nanoribbons," Nature, Nature, vol. 560(7717), pages 209-213, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:560:y:2018:i:7717:d:10.1038_s41586-018-0375-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0375-9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ren, Boquan & Kartashov, Yaroslav V. & Wang, Hongguang & Li, Yongdong & Zhang, Yiqi, 2023. "Floquet topological insulators with hybrid edges," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Dongfei Wang & De-Liang Bao & Qi Zheng & Chang-Tian Wang & Shiyong Wang & Peng Fan & Shantanu Mishra & Lei Tao & Yao Xiao & Li Huang & Xinliang Feng & Klaus Müllen & Yu-Yang Zhang & Roman Fasel & Pasc, 2023. "Twisted bilayer zigzag-graphene nanoribbon junctions with tunable edge states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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