Speaker
Description
Edge and π-electron topologies critically influence electronic properties of sp2 carbon frameworks. For example, presence of zigzag edge leads to emergence of localised non-bonding spin-polarised states, while armchair edge correspondingly supports a closed-shell electronic structure. Furthermore, special topologies of π-electron network leads to molecular systems with non-Kekulé structure that host unpaired electrons. Such systems provide a fertile ground for exploring intrinsic low-dimensional magnetism in carbon-based nanostructures. We describe on-surface synthesis of a variety of open-shell nanostructures viz. single molecules, one-dimensional acenes and quasi-one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons via hierarchical on-surface synthesis or on-surface photochemistry, and employ high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to unravel their geometric and electronic structure.
