Magnetically tuned topological phase in graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to engineer and control topological phases in graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions using intrinsic magnetism, revealing new ways to tune topology for spintronics and quantum devices.

Contribution

It introduces a magnetic scheme to induce and manipulate $ ext{Z}_2$ topological phases in graphene nanoribbons, showing the impact of magnetic configurations on topology and band gaps.

Findings

Magnetism modifies junction state dimerization via SSH mechanism.

Topological phase depends on the width of the narrow armchair segment.

Magnetism increases the bulk energy band gap significantly.

Abstract

The interplay between topology and magnetism often triggers the exotic quantum phases. Here, we report an accessible scheme to engineer the robust $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ topology by intrinsic magnetism, originating from the zigzag segment connecting two armchair segments with different width, in one-dimensional graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions. Our first-principle and model simulations reveal that the emergent spin polarization substantially modifies the dimerization between junction states, forming the special SSH mechanism depending on the magnetic configurations. Interestingly, the topological phase in magnetic state is only determined by the width of the narrow armchair segment, in sharp contrast with that in the normal state. In addition, the emergent magnetism increases the bulk energy band gap by an order of magnitude than that in the nonmagnetic state. We also discuss the $\mathbb{Z}$ topology of the junction states and the termination-dependent of topological end states. Our results bring new way to tune the topology in graphene nanoribbon heterostructure, providing a new platform for future one-dimensional topological devices and molecular-scale spintronics.