Detecting the spin-polarization of edge states in graphene nanoribbons

Jens Brede, Nestor Merino-Díez, Alejandro Berdonces-Layunta, Sofía Sanz, Amelia Domínguez-Celorrio, Jorge Lobo-Checa, Manuel Vilas-Varela, Diego Peña, Thomas Frederiksen, José I. Pascual (), Dimas G. Oteyza () and David Serrate ()
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Jens Brede: Donostia International Physics Center
Nestor Merino-Díez: Donostia International Physics Center
Alejandro Berdonces-Layunta: Donostia International Physics Center
Sofía Sanz: Donostia International Physics Center
Amelia Domínguez-Celorrio: CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza
Jorge Lobo-Checa: CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza
Manuel Vilas-Varela: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Diego Peña: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Thomas Frederiksen: Donostia International Physics Center
José I. Pascual: Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science
Dimas G. Oteyza: Donostia International Physics Center
David Serrate: CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Low dimensional carbon-based materials can show intrinsic magnetism associated to p-electrons in open-shell π-conjugated systems. Chemical design provides atomically precise control of the π-electron cloud, which makes them promising for nanoscale magnetic devices. However, direct verification of their spatially resolved spin-moment remains elusive. Here, we report the spin-polarization of chiral graphene nanoribbons (one-dimensional strips of graphene with alternating zig-zag and arm-chair boundaries), obtained by means of spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy. We extract the energy-dependent spin-moment distribution of spatially extended edge states with π-orbital character, thus beyond localized magnetic moments at radical or defective carbon sites. Guided by mean-field Hubbard calculations, we demonstrate that electron correlations are responsible for the spin-splitting of the electronic structure. Our versatile platform utilizes a ferromagnetic substrate that stabilizes the organic magnetic moments against thermal and quantum fluctuations, while being fully compatible with on-surface synthesis of the rapidly growing class of nanographenes.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42436-7

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