Rectifying performance and negative differential resistance behavior in graphite-chain-nanoribbon junctions

Electronic transport properties of graphite-nanoribbon conjunctions bridged by carbon atomic chains have been investigated. The first-principles calculations show that their I-V characteristics display odd-even effects. Specifically, current in odd-numbered chains is carried by resonances originating from the hybridization of the surface of the graphite electrode, chain and nanoribbon states, while even-numbered chains are mediated by tunneling between the graphite electrode and chain states. The rectifying performance in our models was found to be a result of asymmetric distortions of conducting resonances of the graphite electrode and chain states. It was also found that odd-numbered chains exhibit NDR behaviors caused by depressed chain states. © Copyright EPLA, 2013.