Making a field effect transistor on a single graphene nanoribbon by selective doping

Using first-principles electronic structure calculations, we show a metal-semiconductor transition of a metallic graphene nanoribbon with zigzag edges induced by substitutional doping of nitrogen or boron atoms at the edges. A field effect transistor consisting of a metal-semiconductor-metal junction can then be constructed by selective doping of the ribbon edges. The current-voltage characteristics of such a prototype device is determined by the first-principles quantum transport calculations. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.