Researchers on the Cavendish Laboratory, in collaboration with the European Excessive Magnetic Area Lab in Nijmegen, the College of Warwick, College Faculty London, and Freie Universität Berlin, examined the potential of phosphorene nanoribbons for magnetic and semiconducting properties.
Phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs), that are only some nanometers broad, are strips of black phosphorus which have lengthy been thought to own distinctive magnetic and semiconducting properties. Nevertheless, confirming these properties has been difficult.
The researchers explored the magnetic and semiconducting potential of those nanoribbons.
Utilizing strategies corresponding to electron paramagnetic resonance and ultrafast magneto-optical spectroscopy, they demonstrated the magnetic habits of PNRs at room temperature and the way these magnetic properties work together with gentle.
At ambient temperature, the nanoribbons displayed macroscopic magnetic traits. Iron filings align in resolution beneath comparatively small magnetic fields (<1T), just like their habits round conventional magnets.
Moreover, these macroscopic magnetic properties have been noticed solely when the nanoribbons have been in skinny sheet type, akin to the habits of metals like iron and nickel.
Most excitingly, we found that along with these magnetic properties, PNRs host excited states on the magnetic fringe of the nanoribbon, the place it interacts with atomic vibrations (phonons) which are usually not allowed by the fabric’s bulk symmetries. This uncommon interplay permits PNRs to uniquely couple magnetic, optical, and vibrational properties on its one-dimensional edge.
Arjun Ashoka, Junior Analysis Fellow and Research First Creator, Trinity Faculty
“For years, we have explored and utilized the devilish but benevolent 2D surfaces of 3D supplies, from catalysis to system physics. With these new nanoribbons, we have hopefully unlocked entry to new physics on the 1-dimensional analog of a 2D floor: an edge,” continued Ashoka.
This work is especially noteworthy because it supplies the primary experimental affirmation of the anticipated, but challenging-to-observe, magnetic traits of phosphorene nanoribbons.
The affirmation that phosphorene nanoribbons are intrinsically each semiconducting and magnetic—with out requiring low temperatures or doping—is especially vital and novel. Whereas this property was predicted, immediately observing it’s an unimaginable validation of these predictions.
Chris Howard, College Faculty London
Howard’s staff was the primary to synthesize these nanoribbons.
Essentially the most important side of this analysis is its potential impression on varied scientific and technological fields. The research might result in the event of spintronic gadgets, which use electron spin as an alternative of cost, enabling developments in computing applied sciences corresponding to next-generation transistors, versatile electronics, and scalable fabrication for quantum gadgets.
The most effective factor about this work, aside from being a very thrilling discovering, has been the good staff now we have labored with over 10 institutes and 5 years, highlighting the superb science that may be completed after we work collectively.
Raj Pandya, Corresponding Creator, College of Warwick
Raj Pandya was a Junior Analysis Fellow on the Cavendish Laboratory throughout this analysis.
The researchers are centered on the way forward for their work. Their subsequent steps contain investigating how magnetism interacts with gentle and vibrations on the edges of those ribbons and exploring their potential to create new kinds of gadgets.
Journal Reference:
Ashoka, A., et al. (2025) Magnetically and optically lively edges in phosphorene nanoribbons. Nature. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08563-x