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Optically Unraveling the Edge Chirality‐Dependent Band Structure and Plasmon Damping in Graphene Edges
Author(s) -
Duan Jiahua,
Chen Runkun,
Cheng Yuan,
Yang Tianzhong,
Zhai Feng,
Dai Qing,
Chen Jianing
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201800367
Subject(s) - materials science , chirality (physics) , graphene , plasmon , enhanced data rates for gsm evolution , optoelectronics , surface plasmon , condensed matter physics , nanotechnology , chemical physics , quantum mechanics , physics , chiral symmetry , telecommunications , computer science , nambu–jona lasinio model , quark
The nontrivial topological origin and pseudospinorial character of electron wavefunctions make edge states possess unusual electronic properties. Twenty years ago, the tight‐binding model calculation predicted that zigzag termination of 2D sheets of carbon atoms have peculiar edge states, which show potential application in spintronics and modern information technologies. Although scanning probe microscopy is employed to capture this phenomenon, the experimental demonstration of its optical response remains challenging. Here, the propagating graphene plasmon provides an edge‐selective polaritonic probe to directly detect and control the electronic edge state at ambient condition. Compared with armchair, the edge‐band structure in the bandgap gives rise to additional optical absorption and strongly absorbed rim at zigzag edge. Furthermore, the optical conductivity is reconstructed and the anisotropic plasmon damping in graphene systems is revealed. The reported approach paves the way for detecting edge‐specific phenomena in other van der Waals materials and topological insulators.