Pyrenacene-Embedded Nanocarbons: Syntheses, Properties, and Applications

Nanocarbons stand out as multifunctional materials with potential applications in optoelectronics, spintronics, and energy storage. The bottom-up synthesis of nanocarbons from small aromatic units enables precise control of their structures and properties. Pyrenacenes, such as pyrene, peropyrene, teropyrene, and quarterropyrene, have attracted increasing attention due to their unique optical and electronic properties, as well as their versatile functionalization. Consequently, pyrenacene-embedded nanocarbons have been extensively investigated over the past decade, spanning synthetic development to practical applications. This review summarizes representative synthetic strategies and the structural diversity of pyrenacene-embedded nanocarbons. Furthermore, structure-property relationships and their various applications are discussed. Finally, current limitations and future research directions are critically outlined.