Tailoring topological order and π-conjugation to engineer quasi-metallic polymers

Abstract

Topological band theory provides a conceptual framework to predict or even engineer robust metallic states at the boundaries of topologically distinct phases. The bulk-boundary correspondence requires that a topological electronic phase transition between two insulators must proceed via closing of the electronic gap. Therefore, it can provide a conceptual solution to the instability of metallic phases in π-conjugated 1D polymers. In this work we predict and demonstrate that a clever design and on-surface synthesis of polymers consisting of 1D linearly bridged polyacene moieties, can position the resulting polymer near the topological transition from a trivial to a non-trivial quantum phase featuring a very narrow bandgap with in-gap zero-energy edge-states at the topologically non-trivial phase. We also reveal the fundamental connection between topological classes and electronic transformation of 1D π-conjugated polymers.

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Cited by in corpus (22)

• Topological phase transition in chiral graphene nanoribbons: from edge bands to end states
• Tailoring π-conjugation and vibrational modes to steer on-surface synthesis of pentalene-bridged ladder polymers
• Phase-Coherent Charge Transport through a Porphyrin Nanoribbon
• Selective Activation of Aromatic C-H Bonds Catalyzed by Single Gold Atoms at Room Temperature
• Addressing electron spins embedded in metallic graphene nanoribbons
• Fabrication of Spin-1/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnetic Chains via Combined On-surface Synthesis and Reduction for Spinon Detection
• Topological States in Dimerized Quantum-Dot Chains Created by Atom Manipulation
• Excitonic topology and quantum geometry in organic semiconductors
• Steering alkyne homocoupling with on-surface synthesized catalysts
• Tailoring giant quantum transport anisotropy in disordered nanoporous graphenes
• Steric hindrance in the on-surface synthesis of diethynyl-linked anthracene polymers
• Highly tunable optics across a topological transition in organic polymers
• Stability of moving solitons in trans-polyacetylene in an electric field
• Enhancing the Hyperpolarizability of Crystals with Quantum Geometry
• Topologically-enhanced exciton transport
• Jahn-Teller-like Distortion in a One-dimensional π-Conjugated Polymer
• Towards electrical domain-wall control in polyacetylene-based electronic nanodevices
• Topological boundary states in engineered quantum-dot molecules on the InAs(111)A surface
• Non-Hermitian Effects in the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model: Exploring Substrate Coupling and Decoupling Dynamics
• Magnetically tuned topological phase in graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions
• Electrostatically-induced topological phase transitions in polyacetylene molecules
• Length-independent quantum transport through topological band states of graphene nanoribbons