Effects of localized trap-states and corrugation on charge transport in graphene nanoribbons

TL;DR

This paper explores how localized trap-states and surface acoustic waves influence charge transport in graphene nanoribbons, revealing effects on miniband formation, minigap closure, and current quantization through numerical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of trap-induced localized states and their impact on adiabatic charge transport in nanoribbons under surface acoustic wave influence.

Findings

Electron traps create localized energy levels within minigaps.

Minigaps can be closed by trap states, disrupting quantized charge transport.

Corrugated nanoribbons exhibit different miniband structures without SAW.

Abstract

We investigate the role played by electron traps on adiabatic charge transport for graphene nanoribbons in the presence of an acoustically induced longitudinal surface acoustic wave (SAW) potential. Due to the weak longitudinal SAW-induced potential as well as the strong transverse confinement by a nanoribbon, minibandsof sliding tunnel-coupled quantum dots are formed so that by varying the chemical potential to pass through the minigaps, quantized adiabatic charge transport may be obtained. We analyze the way that the minigaps may be closed, thereby destroying the likelihood of current quantization in a nanoribbon. We present numerical calculations showing the effects due to electron traps which lead to localized-trap energy levels within the minigaps. Additionally, for comparison, we present results for the minibands of a corrugated nanoribbon in the absence of a SAW.