The role of size in spin properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbon

The effects of ribbon size on the spin properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR) with and without edge pentagon-heptagon reconstruction are investigated using spin-polarized density functional theory. It is found that when ribbon width is less than 26.31 Å, the Coulomb and RKKY-like interaction between two ribbon-edges result in the edge state splitting. For a wider ZGNR, the interedge coupling is negligible. In addition to stabilizing the system and weakening the interedge coupling, the edge pentagon-heptagon reconstruction could demagnetize the ZGNR. In perfect and single-edge reconstructed ZGNR, the magnetic moment depends on ribbon width, and the change of magnetic moment becomes inconspicuous with increasing ribbon width. Double-edge reconstructed ZGNR shows nonmagnetic. It may be useful for fabricating graphene-based nanoelectronic and spintronic devices