Linear indium atom chains at graphene edges

Abstract

The presence of metal atoms at the edges of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) opens new possibilities toward tailoring their physical properties. We present here formation and high-resolution characterization of indium (In) chains on the edges of graphene-supported GNRs. The GNRs are formed when adsorbed hydrocarbon contamination crystallizes via laser heating into small ribbon-like patches of a second graphitic layer on a continuous graphene monolayer and onto which In is subsequently physical vapor deposited. Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we find that this leads to the preferential decoration of the edges of the overlying GNRs with multiple In atoms along their graphitic edges. Electron-beam irradiation during STEM induces migration of In atoms along the edges of the GNRs and triggers the formation of longer In atom chains during imaging. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of GNRs similar to our experimentally observed structures indicate that both bare zigzag (ZZ) GNRs as well as In-terminated ZZ-GNRs have metallic character, whereas in contrast, In termination induces metallicity for otherwise semiconducting armchair (AC) GNRs. Our findings provide insights into the creation and properties of long linear metal atom chains at graphitic edges.