Graphene provides an ideal platform to create diverse electronic properties by rational control of its nanoscale structure. Quantum confinement effects can be exploited in strictly planar 2D (e.g. porous graphen) or 1D (graphene nanoribbon GNR) graphene structures. However, in order to achieve well defined electronic properties with high electron motilities the nanostructures need to be synthetized with atomic precision.

After a brief introduction into the concept of on-surface synthesis using dedicated molecular precursor molecules we will discuss the control of band gap and potentially magnetic properties in GNR by controlling their edge structure and width. The characterization of GNR electronic properties by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Spectroscopy (STS) will be presented for pristine GNR and GNR junctions. Further, we will introduce the concept of creating localized, topologically protected, zero energy states in GNR and the possibility to rationally couple such states to from new topological quantum phases in GNRs.

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Bio

Oliver Gröning graduated in experimental physics from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) in 1994. In 1999 he received his PhD for the investigation of the field emission properties of carbon nanostructures in the group of Prof. Louis Schlapbach also in Fribourg. In 2001 Dr. Gröning joined Empa, where he was involved in building up of the nanotech@surafces laboratory for which he is the deputy laboratory head since 2011. His research interest spans from the investigation of chemical reactions on intermetallic surfaces to the synthesis of novel graphene derived nanostructures for electronic applications.