Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry
Published on: March 4, 2021
Synthesis of graphene nanoribbons with a defined mixed edge-site sequence by surface assisted polymerization of
Marco Smerieri1, Igor Píš2, Lara Ferrighi3
1IMEM-CNR, UOS Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy. letizia.savio@imem.cnr.it.
Abstract:
By a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray spectroscopic techniques and density functional theory calculations, we prove the formation of extended patterns of parallel, graphene nanoribbons with alternate zig-zag and armchair edges and selected width by surface-assisted Ullmann coupling polymerization and dehydrogenation of 1,6-dibromopyrene (C16H8Br2). Besides the relevance of these nanostructures for their possible application in nanodevices, we demonstrate the peculiarity of halogenated pyrene derivatives for the formation of nanoribbons, in particular on Ag(110). These results open the possibility of tuning the shape and dimension of nanoribbons (and hence the correlated electronic properties) by choosing suitably tailored or on-purpose designed molecular precursors.
Related Concept Videos
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Substitution: Allylic Bromination
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

