We report a systematic research on structural, electronic, and transport properties of a variety of graphene nanoribbon (GNR) break junctions, with different widths and edge chiralities. Our extensive molecular dynamics simulations provide insight into a variety of possible geometries of the break junctions that are obtained by stretching of the graphene ribbons beyond their breaking points. One or more carbon chains can emerge as structural bridges in the junctions. All investigated ruptured systems obey conduction gaps even when their geometries significantly differ by the number of the bridging chains and the variety of their contacts with GNR electrodes.

• Received 14 January 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.245417