Evolution of graphene molecules: structural and functional complexity as driving forces behind nanoscience

The evolution of nanoscience is based on the ability of the fields of chemistry and physics to share competencies through mutually beneficial collaborations. With this in mind, in this Perspective, I describe three classes of compounds: rylene dyes, polyphenylene dendrimers, as well as nanographene molecules and graphene nanoribbons, which have provided a superb platform to nurture these relationships. The synthesis of these complex structures is demanding but also rewarding because they stimulate unique investigations at the single-molecule level by scanning tunneling microscopy and single-molecule spectroscopy. There are close functional and structural relationships between the molecules chosen. In particular, rylenes and nanographenes can be regarded as honeycomb-type, discoid species composed of fused benzene rings. The benzene ring can thus be regarded as a universal modular building block. Polyphenylene dendrimers serve, first, as a scaffold for dyes en route to multichromophoric systems and, second, as chemical precursors for graphene synthesis. Through chemical design, it is possible to tune the properties of these systems at the single-molecule level and to achieve nanoscale control over their self-assembly to form multifunctional (nano)materials.