Unlocking Unexpected\nCharge Transfer Pathways in Interconnected\nNanostructures

Accurate control of charge transfer pathways is critical\nto unlocking\nthe full potential of charge transfer proteins (CTPs) and exploring\ntheir diverse applications. We show that the intentional manipulation\nof junctions in Al nanocrosses on graphene induces asymmetry, unlocking\nunexpected charge transfer pathways and facilitating the generation\nof coupled resonators. The junction asymmetry, which is induced by\nnanotrench formation facilitated by focused electron beam irradiation,\nprovides a versatile means to achieve precise and controlled interconnect\nmanipulation. We find that tuning the nanotrench dimensions in nanocrosses\nallows for the tailored modulation of the charge transfer speed and\nthe energies of CTPs. Furthermore, CTPs excited in our experimental\nnanocrosses, featuring nanotrenches, exhibit weak coupling. This crucial\ninsight underscores the importance of controlled trench formation\nin unlocking various functionalities of CTPs for use in sensing, catalysis,\nand energy conversion applications. The controlled manipulation of\ninterconnects in Al nanocrosses thus emerges as a promising avenue\nfor advancing the device performance in these fields.