Unzipping Carbon Nanotubes to Sub‐5‐nm Graphene Nanoribbons on Cu(111) by Surface Catalysis

Abstract

AbstractGraphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are promising in nanoelectronics for their quasi‐1D structures with tunable bandgaps. The methods for controllable fabrication of high‐quality GNRs are still limited. Here a way to generate sub‐5‐nm GNRs by annealing single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on Cu(111) is demonstrated. The structural evolution process is characterized by low‐temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Substrate‐dependent measurements on Au(111) and Ru(0001) reveal that the intermediate strong SWCNT‐surface interaction plays a pivotal role in the formation of GNRs.