Breakdown current density of graphene nanoribbons

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with widths down to 16 nm have been characterized for their current-carrying capacity. It is found that GNRs exhibit an impressive breakdown current density, on the order of 10(8) A/cm(2). The breakdown current density is found to have a reciprocal relationship to GNR resistivity and the data fit points to Joule heating as the likely mechanism of breakdown. The superior current-carrying capacity of GNRs will be valuable for their application in on-chip electrical interconnects. The thermal conductivity of sub-20 nm graphene ribbons is found to be more than 1000 W/m K.