Quantum transport and electronic properties of armchair graphene nanoribbons with antidots in different geometry, position and spacing

The electronic properties of armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) with antidot structures were investigated using quantum transport simulations. Three width families (3P, 3P + 1, and 3P + 2) were considered to examine the impact of introducing a single antidot with different geometries. Antidots of star, cross, and arrow shapes were placed at various positions and spacings within the nanoribbons. The simulations were carried out using the Kwant python package based on a π-orbital tight-binding model combined with the non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) method. The results show that antidot geometry, position, and spacing have a significant effect on the density of states and conductance. Central placement of an antidot introduces a clear transport gap, while edge positions maintain higher transmission. Closely spaced antidots lead to strong localisation and reduced conductance, whereas larger spacing helps restore conductance steps. These findings confirm that structural modification using antidots provides an effective approach to tune the electronic properties of AGNRs for potential applications in graphene-based nanoelectronics devices. These findings confirm that structural modification using antidots provides an effective approach to tune the electronic properties of AGNRs for potential applications in graphene-based nanoelectronics devices. In this study, a combined analysis of antidot shape, spacing, and position is carried out within the same AGNR framework. The simulations show clear quantitative trends, such as stronger suppression of conductance for star and cross shapes compared to arrow shapes, and a noticeable recovery of conductance when the spacing between antidots is increased.