Graphene nanoribbon-based nanoelectronic and molecular spintronic devices

提案编号：072556提案标题：基于石墨烯纳米带的纳米电子和分子自旋电子器件PI名称：尼科利奇，布拉尼斯拉夫PI研究所：特拉华州大学这项研究的目的是从理论上模拟围绕石墨烯纳米带建立的纳米电子和纳米自旋电子器件。石墨烯代表密集排列在蜂窝状晶格中的碳原子的单层。虽然块状石墨烯是一种零能隙半导体，但它的量子线和量子点表现出电荷和自旋特性，可以通过它们的边的拓扑结构和它们的大小来操纵。对混合和全石墨烯多端纳米结构中的自旋和电荷电流进行建模的方法是基于新计算算法的发展，该算法使用非平衡格林函数、密度泛函理论，以及在超小型器件需要时超越自洽平均场的电子-电子相互作用处理。智力上的优点：最近石墨烯的发现带来了意想不到的途径来探索低维电子系统，在桌面实验中探测带电中微子的量子电动力学，并建立量子相干的碳基纳米电子器件。与碳纳米管不同，碳纳米管是一层卷起的石墨烯，所提出的石墨烯设备将很容易与标准光刻技术集成。此外，它们的超小尺寸和降低的功耗可以为老化的硅技术提供一种可行的替代方案，同时使即使在室温下也可以利用电荷和自旋传输中的量子干涉效应。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究将为研究生和本科生提供有关量子传输和并行计算技术的极好培训。外展活动将包括暑期班和创造视觉模拟，通过计算科学课程和网络教授石墨烯中令人兴奋的相对论电子物理学。

Proposal Number: 0725566Proposal Title: Graphene nanoribbon-based nanoelectronic and molecular spintronic devicesPI Name: Nikolic, BranislavPI Institution: University of DelawareThe objective of this research is to model theoretically nanoelectronic and nanospintronic devices built around graphene nanoribbons. Graphene represents a monolayer of carbon atoms densely packed into a honeycomb lattice. Although bulk graphene is a zero-gap semiconductor, its quantum wires and dots exhibit charge and spin properties that can be manipulated through the topology of their edges and their size. The approach to the modeling of spin and charge currents in hybrid and all-graphene multiterminal nanostructures is based on the development of novel computational algorithms using the nonequilibrium Green functions, density functional theory, and electron-electron interaction treatment beyond self-consistent mean field when necessary for ultrasmall devices.Intellectual merit:The recent discovery of graphene has ushered unforeseen avenues to explore low-dimensional electron system, probe quantum electrodynamics of charged neutrinos in table-top experiments, and build quantum-coherent carbon-based nanoelectronic devices. Unlike carbon nanotubes, which are a rolled up sheets of graphene, the proposed graphene devices will be easy to integrate with standard lithographic techniques. Moreover, their ultrasmall size and reduced power consumption could offer a viable alternative to aging silicon technology, whilemaking it possible to exploit quantum interference effects in charge and spin transport, even at room temperature.Broader Impact:The proposed research will offer excellent training for graduate and undergraduate students in quantum transport and parallel computing techniques. The outreach will include summer schools and creation of visual simulations to teach the exciting physics of relativistic electrons in graphene through computational science courses and on the Web.