Edge state effects in junctions with graphene electrodes

TL;DR

This paper investigates how edge states in graphene electrodes influence electronic transport in junctions with a molecular system, revealing energy-dependent broadening and level shifts due to edge effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of edge Green functions and self-energies for graphene edges, highlighting unique conductance features caused by edge states.

Findings

Energy-dependent level broadening due to graphene density of states

Shift and splitting of molecular levels from edge states

Distinct conductance features at finite bias and gate voltages

Abstract

We consider plane junctions with graphene electrodes, which are formed by a single-level system ("molecule") placed between the edges of two single-layer graphene half planes. We calculate the edge Green functions of the electrodes and the corresponding lead self-energies for the molecular levels in the cases of semi-infinite single-layer electrodes with armchair and zigzag edges. We show two main effects: first, a peculiar energy-dependent level broadening, reflecting at low energies the linear energy dependence of the bulk density of states in graphene, and, second, the shift and splitting of the molecular level energy, especially pronounced in the case of the zigzag edges due to the influence of the edge states. These effects give rise to peculiar conductance features at finite bias and gate voltages.