Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons

Abstract Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), nanometer-wide strips of graphene, have garnered significant attention due to their tunable electronic and magnetic properties arising from quantum confinement. A promising approach to manipulate their electronic characteristics involves substituting carbon with...

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Main Authors: Nicolò Bassi, Xiushang Xu, Feifei Xiang, Nils Krane, Carlo A. Pignedoli, Akimitsu Narita, Roman Fasel, Pascal Ruffieux
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01344-7
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author Nicolò Bassi
Xiushang Xu
Feifei Xiang
Nils Krane
Carlo A. Pignedoli
Akimitsu Narita
Roman Fasel
Pascal Ruffieux
author_facet Nicolò Bassi
Xiushang Xu
Feifei Xiang
Nils Krane
Carlo A. Pignedoli
Akimitsu Narita
Roman Fasel
Pascal Ruffieux
author_sort Nicolò Bassi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), nanometer-wide strips of graphene, have garnered significant attention due to their tunable electronic and magnetic properties arising from quantum confinement. A promising approach to manipulate their electronic characteristics involves substituting carbon with heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, with different effects predicted depending on their position. In this study, we present the extension of the edges of 7-atom-wide armchair graphene nanoribbons (7-AGNRs) with pyridine rings, achieved on a Au(111) surface via on-surface synthesis. High-resolution structural characterization confirms the targeted structure, showcasing the predominant formation of carbon-nitrogen (C-N) bonds (over 90% of the units) during growth. This favored bond formation pathway is elucidated and confirmed through density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Furthermore, an analysis of the electronic properties reveals metallic behavior due to charge transfer to the Au(111) substrate accompanied by the presence of nitrogen-localized states. Our results underscore the successful formation of C-N bonds on the metal surface, providing insights for designing new GNRs that incorporate substitutional nitrogen atoms to precisely control their electronic properties.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2399-3669
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series Communications Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-8285df5b8bca4967b76bc8883b3dd9482024-11-24T12:14:24ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692024-11-01711910.1038/s42004-024-01344-7Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbonsNicolò Bassi0Xiushang Xu1Feifei Xiang2Nils Krane3Carlo A. Pignedoli4Akimitsu Narita5Roman Fasel6Pascal Ruffieux7nanotech@surfaces Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyOrganic and Carbon Nanomaterials Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate Universitynanotech@surfaces Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologynanotech@surfaces Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologynanotech@surfaces Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyOrganic and Carbon Nanomaterials Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate Universitynanotech@surfaces Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologynanotech@surfaces Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyAbstract Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), nanometer-wide strips of graphene, have garnered significant attention due to their tunable electronic and magnetic properties arising from quantum confinement. A promising approach to manipulate their electronic characteristics involves substituting carbon with heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, with different effects predicted depending on their position. In this study, we present the extension of the edges of 7-atom-wide armchair graphene nanoribbons (7-AGNRs) with pyridine rings, achieved on a Au(111) surface via on-surface synthesis. High-resolution structural characterization confirms the targeted structure, showcasing the predominant formation of carbon-nitrogen (C-N) bonds (over 90% of the units) during growth. This favored bond formation pathway is elucidated and confirmed through density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Furthermore, an analysis of the electronic properties reveals metallic behavior due to charge transfer to the Au(111) substrate accompanied by the presence of nitrogen-localized states. Our results underscore the successful formation of C-N bonds on the metal surface, providing insights for designing new GNRs that incorporate substitutional nitrogen atoms to precisely control their electronic properties.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01344-7
spellingShingle Nicolò Bassi
Xiushang Xu
Feifei Xiang
Nils Krane
Carlo A. Pignedoli
Akimitsu Narita
Roman Fasel
Pascal Ruffieux
Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
Communications Chemistry
title Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
title_full Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
title_fullStr Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
title_full_unstemmed Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
title_short Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
title_sort preferential graphitic nitrogen formation in pyridine extended graphene nanoribbons
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01344-7
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