Negative differential resistance and bias-modulated metal-to-insulator transition in zigzag C 2 N-h2D nanoribbon.

Motivated by the fabrication of layered two-dimensional material C2 N-h2D [Nat. Commun. 6, 6486 (2015)], we cut the single-layer C2 N-h2D into a zigzag nanoribbon and perform a theoretical study. The results indicate that the band structure changes from semiconducting to metallic and a negative differential resistance effect occurs in the I-V curve. Interestingly, the current can be reduced to zero and this insulator-like state can be maintained as the bias increases. We find this unique property is originated from a peculiar band morphology, with only two subbands appearing around the Fermi level while others being far away. Furthermore the width and symmetry of the zigzag C2 N-h2D nanoribbon can be used to tune the transport properties, such as cut-off bias and the maximum current. We also explore the electron transport property of an aperiodic model composed of two nanoribbons with different widths and obtain the same conclusion. This mechanism can be extended to other systems, e.g., hybrid BCN nanoribbons. Our discoveries suggest that the zigzag C2 N-h2D nanoribbon has great potential in nanoelectronics applications.