Charge localization and hopping in a topologically engineered graphene nanoribbon

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are promising quasi-one-dimensional materials with various technological applications. Recently, methods that allowed for the control of GNR's topology have been developed, resulting in connected nanoribbons composed of two distinct armchair GNR families. Here, we employed an extended version of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model to study the morphological and electronic properties of these novel GNRs. Results demonstrated that charge injection leads to the formation of polarons that localize strictly in the 9-AGNRs segments of the system. Its mobility is highly impaired by the system's topology. The polaron displaces through hopping between 9-AGNR portions of the system, suggesting this mechanism for charge transport in this material.

Automated summary

Graphene nanoribbons are promising quasi-one-dimensional materials with various technological applications. Methods have been developed to control the topology of GNRs, resulting in connected nanoribbons composed of two distinct armchair GNR families. Using an extended version of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, researchers studied the morphological and electronic properties of these novel GNRs and found that charge injection leads to the formation of polarons that localize strictly in the 9-AGNRs segments of the system, affecting the system's topology and charge transport mechanism.