Optical properties and charge-transfer excitations in edge-functionalized all-graphene nanojunctions

TL;DR

This study explores how edge functionalization in graphene nanostructures influences their optical properties and charge transfer excitations, enabling tunable optoelectronic applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates that functional groups can induce low-energy charge transfer excitations with high oscillator strength in graphene-based nanojunctions.

Findings

Functionalization leads to charge transfer excitons with large oscillator strength.

Width variation modulates the optical absorption spectrum.

Design principles for all-graphene optoelectronic devices are proposed.

Abstract

We investigate the optical properties of edge-functionalized graphene nanosystems, focusing on the formation of junctions and charge transfer excitons. We consider a class of graphene structures which combine the main electronic features of graphene with the wide tunability of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By investigating prototypical ribbon-like systems, we show that, upon convenient choice of functional groups, low energy excitations with remarkable charge transfer character and large oscillator strength are obtained. These properties can be further modulated through an appropriate width variation, thus spanning a wide range in the low-energy region of the UV-Vis spectra. Our results are relevant in view of designing all-graphene optoelectronic nanodevices, which take advantage of the versatility of molecular functionalization, together with the stability and the electronic properties of graphene nanostructures.