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Updated: Feb 4, 2026
08:18
Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry
Published on: March 4, 2021
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Charging molecular nanographenes with electrons through chemical reduction
Yikun Zhu1, Marina A Petrukhina1
1Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA. mpetrukhina@albany.edu.
Chemical Society Reviews
|February 3, 2026
Summary
Molecular nanographenes exhibit remarkable multi-electron accepting abilities, undergoing unique structural and conformational changes upon reduction. These findings highlight their potential for advanced energy-storage applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Molecular nanographenes are carbon-rich aromatic hydrocarbons with tunable electronic properties.
- Understanding their behavior under reduction is crucial for developing new functional materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electron accepting abilities of molecular nanographenes with varying core structures.
- To elucidate the structural and electronic responses to stepwise chemical reduction.
Main Methods:
- Chemical reduction of molecular nanographenes.
- X-ray crystallographic analysis.
- Spectroscopic analysis.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated multi-electron accepting properties of nanographenes.
- Observed charge-dependent conformational changes and structural transformations.
- Identified unique site-specific reactivity and supramolecular aggregation.
Conclusions:
- Stepwise reduction induces significant structural and electronic changes in nanographenes.
- Supercharged molecular nanographenes show promise as advanced energy-storage materials.
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