Tuning electronic and magnetic properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbons by large-scale bending

Using density-functional theory calculations, we show that the electronic and magnetic properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are highly sensitive to large scale curvature. As the curvature increases, the system experiences a transformation from the antiferromagnetic state to a nonmagnetic state and then back to the antiferromagnetic state. The energy gap first remains almost invariant and then decreases monotonically. The results demonstrate a facile strategy to tune the electronic and magnetic properties of ZGNRs, and furthermore provide an avenue to design versatile electronic and spin devices. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4731624]