On-surface Synthesis of Edge-Extended Zigzag Graphene Nanoribbons.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have gained significant attention in nanoelectronics due to their potential for precise tuning of electronic properties through variations in edge structure and ribbon width. However, the synthesis of GNRs with highly sought-after zigzag edges (ZGNRs), critical for spintronics and quantum information technologies, remains challenging. In this study, we present a design motif for synthesizing a novel class of GNRs termed edge-extended ZGNRs. This motif enables the controlled incorporation of edge extensions along the zigzag edges at regular intervals. We successfully demonstrate the synthesis of a specific GNR instance-a 3-zigzag-rows-wide ZGNR-with bisanthene units fused to the zigzag edges on alternating sides of the ribbon axis. The resulting edge-extended 3-ZGNR is comprehensively characterized for its chemical structure and electronic properties using scanning probe techniques, complemented by density functional theory calculations. The design motif showcased here opens up new possibilities for synthesizing a diverse range of edge-extended ZGNRs, expanding the structural landscape of GNRs and facilitating the exploration of their structure-dependent electronic properties. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved