Fractional Statistics and Electron Transfer at Topological Defects
Abstract
We develop a theoretical framework for electron transfer (ET) at graphene defects, treating the surface as a Dirac cone with a localized defect state coupled to a vibrational environment. Using a polaron transformation combined with a modified density of states, we derive an explicit expression for the ET rate that incorporates both vibrational reorganization and fractionalized quasiparticle statistics. We show that fractional statistics, modeled through a power-law density of states, suppress low-energy ET near resonance and introduce tunable deviations from conventional Marcus-like kinetics. Our results suggest that strain, defect engineering, or chemical modification could stabilize fractional excitations in graphene-based catalysts, offering new strategies for controlling surface reactivity. These findings provide a foundation for future experimental and computational investigations into the role of topology and fractional statistics in chemical electron transfer.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2505.05617,
title = {Fractional Statistics and Electron Transfer at Topological Defects},
author = {Eric R. Bittner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.05617},
year = {2025}
}