Yuhang Jiang

Tunability of Supramolecular Kagome Lattices of Magnetic Phthalocyanines Using Graphene-Based Moire Patterns as Templates

Self-assembly of various phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules and a derivative on an epitaxial graphene monolayer (MG) has been investigated by means of in situ ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy. The formation of regular Kagome lattices that duplicate the lattice of the moire pattern of MG was observed, demonstrating that MG can act as a wonderful template for the fabrication of unique nanoarchitectures with remarkable properties. Varying the central metal ion of the Pc molecule affords Kagome lattices with tunable molecular spins, providing ideal two-dimensional model systems for studying frustration physics.

Reversible Single Spin Control of Individual Magnetic Molecule by Hydrogen Atom Adsorption

The reversible control of a single spin of an atom or a molecule is of great interest in Kondo physics and a potential application in spin based electronics. Here we demonstrate that the Kondo resonance of manganese phthalocyanine molecules on a Au(111) substrate have been reversibly switched off and on via a robust route through attachment and detachment of single hydrogen atom to the magnetic core of the molecule. As further revealed by density functional theory calculations, even though the total number of electrons of the Mn ion remains almost the same in the process, gaining one single hydrogen atom leads to redistribution of charges within 3d orbitals with a reduction of the molecular spin state from S = 3/2 to S = 1 that directly contributes to the Kondo resonance disappearance. This process is reversed by a local voltage pulse or thermal annealing to desorb the hydrogen atom.

Realization of a tunable artificial atom at a supercritically charged vacancy in graphene

Single carbon vacancies in graphene can host a positive charge that is tunable. When this charge is large enough such vacancies resemble artificial atoms, with an induced sequence of quasi-bound states that trap nearby electrons.

Visualizing Strain-Induced Pseudomagnetic Fields in Graphene through an hBN Magnifying Glass

Graphenes remarkable properties are inherent to its two-dimensional honeycomb lattice structure. Its low dimensionality, which makes it possible to rearrange the atoms by applying an external force, offers the intriguing prospect of mechanically controlling the electronic properties. In the presence of strain, graphene develops a pseudomagnetic field (PMF) that reconstructs the band structure into pseudo Landau levels (PLLs). However, a feasible route to realizing, characterizing and controlling PMFs is still lacking. Here we report on a method to generate and characterize PMFs in a graphene membrane supported on nanopillars. A direct measure of the local strain is achieved by using the magnifying effect of the moiré pattern formed against a hexagonal boron nitride substrate under scanning tunneling microscopy. We quantify the strain-induced PMF through the PLLs spectra observed in scanning tunneling spectroscopy. This work provides a pathway to strain induced engineering and electro-mechanical graphene-based devices.

Tuning a circular p–n junction in graphene from quantum confinement to optical guiding

The photon-like propagation of the Dirac electrons in graphene, together with its record-high electronic mobility, can lead to applications based on ultrafast electronic response and low dissipation. However, the chiral nature of the charge carriers that is responsible for the high mobility also makes it difficult to control their motion and prevents electronic switching. Here, we show how to manipulate the charge carriers by using a circular p-n junction whose size can be continuously tuned from the nanometre to the micrometre scale. The junction size is controlled with a dual-gate device consisting of a planar back gate and a point-like top gate made by decorating a scanning tunnelling microscope tip with a gold nanowire. The nanometre-scale junction is defined by a deep potential well created by the tip-induced charge. It traps the Dirac electrons in quantum-confined states, which are the graphene equivalent of the atomic collapse states (ACSs) predicted to occur at supercritically charged nuclei. As the junction size increases, the transition to the optical regime is signalled by the emergence of whispering-gallery modes, similar to those observed at the perimeter of acoustic or optical resonators, and by the appearance of a Fabry-Pérot interference pattern for junctions close to a boundary.

Revealing the Atomic Site-Dependent g Factor within a Single Magnetic Molecule via the Extended Kondo Effect

The site-dependent g factor of a single magnetic molecule, with intramolecular resolution, is demonstrated for the first time by low-temperature, high-magnetic-field scanning tunneling microscopy of dehydrogenated Mn-phthalocyanine molecules on Au(111). This is achieved by exploring the magnetic-field dependence of the extended Kondo effect at different atomic sites of the molecule. Importantly, an inhomogeneous distribution of the g factor inside a single molecule is revealed. Our results open up a new route to access local spin properties within a single molecule.

Observing a scale anomaly and a universal quantum phase transition in graphene

One of the most interesting predictions resulting from quantum physics, is the violation of classical symmetries, collectively referred to as anomalies. A remarkable class of anomalies occurs when the continuous scale symmetry of a scale-free quantum system is broken into a discrete scale symmetry for a critical value of a control parameter. This is an example of a (zero temperature) quantum phase transition. Such an anomaly takes place for the quantum inverse square potential known to describe ‘Efimov physics’. Broken continuous scale symmetry into discrete scale symmetry also appears for a charged and massless Dirac fermion in an attractive 1/r Coulomb potential. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the universality of this quantum phase transition and to present convincing experimental evidence of its existence for a charged and massless fermion in an attractive Coulomb potential as realized in graphene.When the continuous scale symmetry of a quantum system is broken, anomalies occur which may lead to quantum phase transitions. Here, the authors provide evidence for such a quantum phase transition in the attractive Coulomb potential of vacancies in graphene, and further envision its universality for diverse physical systems.

Inducing Kondo screening of vacancy magnetic moments in graphene with gating and local curvature

In normal metals the magnetic moment of impurity-spins disappears below a characteristic Kondo temperature which marks the formation of a cloud of conduction-band electrons that screen the local-moment. In contrast, moments embedded in insulators remain unscreened at all temperatures. What then is the fate of magnetic-moments in intermediate, pseudogap systems, such as graphene? Theory predicts that coupling to the conduction-band electrons will drive a quantum phase transition between a local-moment phase and a Kondo-screened phase. However, attempts to experimentally confirm this prediction and its intriguing consequences, such as electrostatically tunable magnetic-moments, have been elusive. Here we report the observation of Kondo-screening and the quantum phase-transition between screened and unscreened phases of vacancy magnetic moments in graphene. Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy and numerical renormalization-group calculations we show that this transition enables to control the screening of local moments by tuning the gate voltage and the local curvature of the graphene membrane.Observing and tuning the Kondo effect in graphene is experimentally challenging. Here, the authors identify the spectroscopic signature of Kondo screening in graphene, along with a quantum phase transition between screened and unscreened phases of vacancy magnetic moments.In normal metals, the magnetic moment of impurity spins disappears below a characteristic Kondo temperature, TK, where coupling with the conduction-band electrons produces an entangled state that screens the local moment. In contrast, moments embedded in insulators remain unscreened at all temperatures. This raises the question about the fate of magnetic moments in intermediate, pseudogap systems, such as graphene. In these systems theory predicts a quantum phase-transition at a critical coupling strength which separates a local magnetic-moment phase from a Kondo screened phase. However, attempts to experimentally confirm these predictions and their intriguing consequences such as the ability to electrostatically control magnetic moments, have thus far been elusive. Here we report the observation of Kondo screening and the quantum phase-transition between screened and unscreened phases of vacancy magnetic-moments in graphene. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), spectroscopy (STS) and numerical renormalization group (NRG) calculations, we identified Kondo screening by its spectroscopic signature and mapped the phase-transition as a function of coupling strength and chemical potential. We show that this transition makes it possible to turn the magnetic-moment on and off electrostatically through a gate voltage or mechanically through variations in local curvature.