Negative differential resistance behaviour in N-doped crossed graphene nanoribbons

By using first-principles calculations and nonequilibrium Green's function technique, we study elastic transport properties of crossed graphene nanoribbons. The results show that the electronic transport properties of molecular junctions can be modulated by doped atoms. Negative differential resistance (NDR) behaviour can be observed in a certain bias region, when crossed graphene nanoribbons are doped with nitrogen atoms at the shoulder, but it cannot be observed for pristine crossed graphene nanoribbons at low biases. A mechanism for the negative differential resistance behaviour is suggested.