Work

Ultranarrow Germanene Nanoribbons with Pentagonal Rings

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: One-dimensional elemental nanostructures, exemplified by graphene nanoribbons, hold great potential for advanced nanoelectronics, which can be further expanded by composition of heavier group 14 elements. Although the synthesis of germanene nanoribbons (GeNRs) has been recently demonstrated through high-temperature Ge atom segregation onto Pt and Ag adlayers from stepped Ge(110) bulk crystals, atomic-scale control of their structures remains unexplored. Here, we present ultranarrow GeNRs composed exclusively of pentagonal rings via thermal treatment of germanium clusters onto Ag(111) at 300 K with high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy. Field-effect resonant tunneling spectra supported by ab initio calculations reveal that the work function of GeNRs is moderately higher than that of pristine Ag(111), resulting in a directional interfacial charge modulation. Our findings suggest that the GeNR/Ag(111) system offers an atomically defined platform for studying metal contacts, work function engineering, resonant tunneling, and substrate-stabilized one-dimensional electronic states as well as mechanical properties.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c02715

Authors: Kewei Sun, Orlando J. Silveira, Adam S. Foster, Shigeki Kawai

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Institute for Materials Science, Aalto University, Kanazawa University, University of Tsukuba

Language: English

Topic: Surface and Thin Film Phenomena

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Academy of Finland, China Scholarship Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science