Zhang–Zhang Polynomials of Ribbons

Abstract

We report a closed-form formula for the Zhang–Zhang polynomial (also known as ZZ polynomial or Clar covering polynomial) of an important class of elementary peri-condensed benzenoids Rbn1,n2,m1,m2, usually referred to as ribbons. A straightforward derivation is based on the recently developed interface theory of benzenoids [Langner and Witek, MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem.2020, 84, 143–176]. The discovered formula provides compact expressions for various topological invariants of Rbn1,n2,m1,m2: the number of Kekulé structures, the number of Clar covers, its Clar number, and the number of Clar structures. The last two classes of elementary benzenoids, for which closed-form ZZ polynomial formulas remain to be found, are hexagonal flakes Ok,m,n and oblate rectangles Orm,n.

Keywords

• enumeration of Clar covers
• ZZ polynomials
• Clar covering polynomials
• ribbons
• peri-condensed benzenoids