Structural, electronic, mechanical, and transport properties of phosphorene nanoribbons: Negative differential resistance behavior

Structural, electronic, mechanical, and transport properties of two different types of phosphorene nanoribbons are calculated within the density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's function formalisms. Armchair nanoribbons turn out to be semiconductors at all widths considered. Zigzag nanoribbons are metallic in their layer-terminated structure, but undergo Peierls-like transition at the edges. Armchair nanoribbons have smaller Young's modulus compared to a monolayer, while zigzag nanoribbons have larger Young's modulus. Edge reconstruction further increases the Young's modulus of zigzag nanoribbons. A two-terminal device made of zigzag nanoribbons show negative differential resistance behavior that is robust with respect to edge reconstruction. We have also calculated the $I\text{\ensuremath{-}}V$ characteristics for two nonzero gate voltages. The results show that the zigzag nanoribbons display strong $p$-type character.