New atomically precise graphene nanoribbon heterojunction sensor developed

The heterojunctions of graphene nanoribbons are just one nanometre -- one millionth of a millimetre -- wide. Graphene consists of only a single layer of carbon atoms and is considered the thinnest material in the world. In 2010, researchers in Manchester succeeded in making single-atom layers of graphene for the first time, for which they won the Nobel Prize. 'The graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions used to make the sensor are each seven and fourteen carbon atoms wide and about 50 nanometres long. What makes them special is that their edges are free of defects. This is why they are called "atomically precise" nanoribbons,' explained Dr Boris Senkovskiy from the Institute for Experimental Physics. The researchers connected several of these nanoribbon heterojunctions at their short ends, thus creating more complex heterostructures that act as tunnelling barriers.

The heterostructures were investigated using angle-resolved photoemission, optical spectroscopy, and scanning tunnelling microscopy. In the next step, the generated heterostructures were integrated into an electronic device. The electric current flowing through the nanoribbon heterostructure is governed by the quantum mechanical tunnelling effect. This means that under certain conditions, electrons can overcome existing energy barriers in atoms by 'tunnelling', so that a current then flows even though the barrier is greater than the available energy of the electron.

The researchers built a novel sensor for the adsorption of atoms and molecules from the nanoribbon heterostructure. The tunnel current through the heterostructure is particularly sensitive to adsorbates that accumulate on surfaces. That is, the current strength changes when atoms or molecules, such as those of gases, accumulate on the surface of the sensor. 'The prototype sensor we built has excellent properties. Among other things, it is particularly sensitive and can be used to measure even the smallest amounts of adsorbates,' said Professor Dr Alexander Grüneis, head of a research group at the Institute of Experimental Physics.