Exploration of magnetism in armchair graphene nanoribbons with radical groups

► Magnetism in armchair graphene nanoribbons was investigated theoretically. ► Radical groups do not always produce magnetism, e.g., for NH group. ► CH2 and O group can produce distinct magnetism due to unsaturated states formed. ► Special bands of semimetal and spin gapless semiconductors can be induced. ► A bond model was proposed to understand magnetism/nonmagnetism in those systems.