Graphene Nanostructures 3.0: Nanoelectronics, Quantum Phenomena and Properties

With the advances in emergent quantum technologies, such as quantum computing, quantum communications, etc., graphene nanostructures provide a unique molecular toolbox for accessing their unprecedented quantum phenomena and properties. In this lecture, we will introduce our recent efforts towards the precision graphene nanostructures as the defined quantum entities for the spin-spin coupling. Both in-solution and on-surface synthesis approaches will be discussed that provide synthetic access to this class of unique graphene nanostructures with controlled spin-orbital coupling behavior. Individual open-shell graphene molecules (Kekuléne, non-Kekuléne and concealed non-Kekuléne structure motifs) with controlled singlet, triplet, as well as high-spin states, will be developed. Next, we will discuss the collective carbon magnetisms in the dimers of open-shell graphene molecules. Spin-chains with fractional edge excitations will also be presented. In the final section, we will also present our recent efforts towards graphene nanoribbon-based nanoelectronics. Various robust graphene nanoribbons with controlled edge structures and topologies will be synthesized and demonstrated to show their unique electronic and optoelectronic properties. The integration of single graphene nanoribbons into the nanoelectronic devices will be particularly highlighted.