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Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry
Published on: March 4, 2021
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New advances in nanographene chemistry
Akimitsu Narita1, Xiao-Ye Wang, Xinliang Feng
1Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany. muellen@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Chemical Society Reviews
|July 18, 2015
Summary
Chemists precisely synthesize graphene molecules and nanoribbons using bottom-up methods. Recent advances focus on novel structures, doping, and edge functionalization for advanced materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanographenes, extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, have gained attention since graphene's 2004 discovery.
- Atomically precise nanographene fabrication relies on synthetic organic chemistry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent progress in the bottom-up chemical synthesis of structurally well-defined nanographenes.
- To cover advancements in graphene molecules and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs).
Main Methods:
- Summarizing developments in graphene molecule synthesis into four categories: non-conventional methods, seven- or eight-membered rings, heteroatom doping, and edge functionalization.
- Extending nanographene synthesis to polymeric systems for graphene nanoribbon (GNR) fabrication.
- Utilizing solution-mediated or surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenation (graphitization) of polyphenylene precursors for GNR synthesis.
Main Results:
- Significant progress in the precise synthesis of quasi-zero-dimensional nanographenes (graphene molecules).
- Development of methods for synthesizing one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with controlled structures.
- Demonstration of bottom-up approaches for creating both graphene molecules and GNRs.
Conclusions:
- Bottom-up chemical synthesis is key to achieving structurally well-defined nanographenes.
- Advancements enable precise control over graphene molecule and GNR architectures.
- These synthetic strategies pave the way for novel graphene-based materials.

