Magnetic Properties of Zig-Zag-Edged Hexagonal Nanohelicenes: A Quantum Chemical Study

The atomic structure and electronic and magnetic properties of two zig-zag-edged hexagonal nanohelicenes of the second type [1.2] and [2.2] were studied by the density functional theory. These objects possess a helical periodicity and belong to the fifth family of line symmetry groups in their global energy minimum. These nanohelicenes were shown by us to be diamagnetic metals that undergo spontaneous symmetry breaking into antiferromagnetic semiconductors as a result of the Mott-Hubbard metal-insulator transition. However, under some torsional stress, a reversible transformation to a diamagnetic metal can take place, which is promising for the use of nanohelicenes in electro-magneto-mechanical nanodevices.

Automated summary

The atomic structure, electronic, and magnetic properties of two zig-zag-edged hexagonal nanohelicenes of the second type [1.2] and [2.2] were investigated using density functional theory. These nanohelicenes exhibit a helical periodicity and belong to the fifth family of line symmetry groups in their global energy minimum. We found that these nanohelicenes are diamagnetic metals that undergo a spontaneous symmetry breaking into antiferromagnetic semiconductors through the Mott-Hubbard metal-insulator transition. However, under torsional stress, a reversible transformation to a diamagnetic metal can occur, which holds promise for the utilization of nanohelicenes in electromagneto-mechanical nanodevices.