Synthesis of structurally well-defined and liquid-phase-processable graphene nanoribbons
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
The properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) make them good candidates for next-generation electronic materials. Whereas 'top-down' methods, such as the lithographical patterning of graphene and the unzipping of carbon nanotubes, give mixtures of different GNRs, structurally well-defined GNRs can be made using a 'bottom-up' organic synthesis approach through solution-mediated or surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenation reactions. Specifically, non-planar polyphenylene precursors were first 'built up' from small molecules, and then 'graphitized' and 'planarized' to yield GNRs. However, fabrication of processable and longitudinally well-extended GNRs has remained a major challenge. Here we report a bottom-up solution synthesis of long (>200 nm) liquid-phase-processable GNRs with a well-defined structure and a large optical bandgap of 1.88 eV. Self-assembled monolayers of GNRs can be observed by scanning probe microscopy, and non-contact time-resolved terahertz conductivity measurements reveal excellent charge-carrier mobility within individual GNRs. Such structurally well-defined GNRs may prove useful for fundamental studies of graphene nanostructures, as well as the development of GNR-based nanoelectronics.
Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 126-132 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nature chemistry |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2014 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 24451588 |
---|