Electromechanical properties of suspended Graphene Nanoribbons

TL;DR

This paper investigates how mechanical deformations influence the electronic properties of ultra-narrow graphene nanoribbons, revealing their potential for nanoscale electromechanical sensors and devices.

Contribution

It introduces a method combining density functional theory and elasticity theory to control graphene nanoribbons' electronic properties through mechanical deformation.

Findings

Young's modulus of ~7 TPa for ultra-narrow ribbons

Pronounced electromechanical response to bending and torsion

Potential for designing nanoscale electromechanical devices

Abstract

Graphene nanoribbons present diverse electronic properties ranging from semiconducting to half-metallic, depending on their geometry, dimensions and chemical composition. Here we present a route to control these properties via externally applied mechanical deformations. Using state-of-the-art density functional theory calculations combined with classical elasticity theory considerations, we find a remarkable Young's modulus value of ~7 TPa for ultra-narrow graphene strips and a pronounced electromechanical response towards bending and torsional deformations. Given the current advances in the synthesis of nanoscale graphene derivatives, our predictions can be experimentally verified opening the way to the design and fabrication of miniature electromechanical sensors and devices based on ultra-narrow graphene nanoribbons.