E3S senior investigators Prof. Felix Fischer and Prof. Steven Louie teamed up with Prof. Michael Crommie in the synthesis and characterization of the first metallic graphene nanoribbons (GNRs).

“We think that the metallic wires are really a breakthrough; it is the first time that we can intentionally create an ultra-narrow metallic conductor — a good, intrinsic conductor — out of carbon-based materials, without the need for external doping,” Fischer said.

Center director, Prof. Yablonovitch congratulated the team: “This is a significant step toward a revolutionary new carbon-based transistor. We have now a complete “GNR toolbox” with semiconductors, insulators, and metals.”

The study was published in Science magazine. More details can be found in this UC Berkeley news release.