From Nanographene and Graphene Nanoribbons to Graphene Sheets: Chemical Synthesis

Emerging Bottom-Up Strategies for the Synthesis of Graphene Nanoribbons and Related Structures

The solution-phase synthesis is one of the most promising strategies for the preparation of well-defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) in large scale. To prepare high quality, defect-free GNRs, cycloaromatization reactions need to be very efficient, proceed without side reaction and mild enough to accommodate the presence of various functional groups. In this Minireview, we present the latest synthetic approaches for the synthesis of GNRs and related structures, including alkyne benzannulation, photochemical cyclodehydrohalogenation, Mallory and Pd- and Ni-catalyzed reactions.

Theoretical research on the oxidation mechanism of doped carbon based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

To understand the essential reasons of poor durability and rapid initial performance loss of heteroatom doped graphene catalysts during the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process, it is necessary to explore the detailed mechanism of carbon active site oxidation reaction (COR) at different electrode potentials, as it may greatly influence the ORR activity. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculation is used to investigate all possible COR mechanisms, including Direct-COR and Indirect-COR, on four typical doped-graphene, and understand the competing relation between COR and ORR from a thermodynamic point of view. Our systematic calculations found that the Direct-COR is affected directly by the structural stability of doped-graphene relative to pure graphite, and the Indirect-COR can be accelerated largely by the ORR process due to the ORR intermediate, such as O and OOH. The competition relation between COR and ORR is mainly influenced by the interaction between the doped-graphene and reaction species, stability of doped-structure, ORR mechanism, and electrode potential. For COR, the partial oxidation of doped-graphene is the dominant oxidation reaction compared to complete oxidation in the ORR potential range. More importantly, both partial and complete oxidation of doped-graphene can remarkably depress the ORR activity. Hence, COR should be one of the major contributors to the rapid initial performance loss of carbon based catalysts in stability testing. Our results provide a comprehensive and deep understanding of the oxidation of carbon active sites on doped-graphene surfaces and can guide the design of more robust doped-carbon based catalysts.

Synthesis of a novel hexaazatriphenylene derivative for the selective detection of copper ions in aqueous solution

A hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) derivative, naphtho[2,3-h]naphtho[2',3':7,8]quinoxalino[2,3-a]naphtho[2',3':7,8]quinoxalino[2,3-c]phenazine-5,10,15,20,25,30-hexaone (NQH) was synthesized, characterized, and found to have novel properties in being selective toward the detection of copper (Cu2+) ions. The capability of NQH to be employed as a colorimetric, chemo-fluorescence and electrochemical sensor for the detection of Cu2+ was demonstrated by performing UV-Vis absorbance, fluorescence intensity, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The interaction between NQH and Cu2+ was initially observed with an obvious color change from yellow to brown upon the addition of Cu2+ ions to NQH. The interaction was also confirmed by UV-Vis absorbance, fluorescence intensity, and mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) measurements. UV absorbance, fluorescence and CV of NQH toward Cu2+ showed good linearity with a detection limit of 3.32 μM, 2.20 μM and 0.78 μM, respectively, which are lower than the toxicity levels of copper in drinking water (20-30 μM) set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO). A 1 : 2 stoichiometry complexation between NQH and Cu2+ was confirmed by Job's plot and MS/MS. In addition, the selectivity and sensitivity of the NQH compound towards Cu2+ ions were further confirmed by performing CV on a screen printed flexible and planar electrochemical sensor.

Dibenzo[hi,st]ovalene as Highly Luminescent Nanographene: Efficient Synthesis via Photochemical Cyclodehydroiodination, Optoelectronic Properties, and Single-Molecule Spectroscopy

Dibenzo[hi,st]ovalene (DBOV), as a new nanographene, has demonstrated promising optical properties, such as red emission with a high fluorescence quantum yield of 79% and stimulated emission, as well as high thermal stability and photostability, which indicated its promise as a light-emitting and optical gain material. However, the previous synthetic routes required at least 12 steps. This obstructed access to different derivatives, e.g., to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis and to tune the optoelectronic properties. Here, we report an efficient synthetic pathway to DBOV based on a sequential iodination-benzannulation of bi(naphthylphenyl)diyne, followed by photochemical cyclodehydroiodination (PCDHI). This protocol included a fused bischrysene as a key intermediate and furnished scalable amounts of meso-substituted DBOV derivatives with different substituents. DBOV with 2,6-dimethylphenyl groups could be used for single-crystal X-ray analysis, revealing the precise structure of the DBOV core. The optoelectronic properties of the DBOV derivatives were investigated by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory calculations. Single-molecule spectroscopy at room and low temperatures provided novel insights into the photophysics of DBOV embedded in a polymer film. As a result of weak coupling of the optical transitions to the matrix, single-molecule emission spectra at 4.5 K showed narrow vibronic lines. The fluorescence autocorrelation function covering 9 orders of magnitude in time displayed high contrast photon antibunching and bunching, from which the fluorescence decay rate and the triplet population and depopulation rates could be retrieved. Remarkably, the intersystem crossing rate into the triplet state decreased by more than an order of magnitude at low temperature, demonstrating that temperature can be a crucial parameter to boost single photon emission of an aromatic hydrocarbon.

Solid-state Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions: olefin-accelerated C-C coupling using mechanochemistry

The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction is one of the most reliable methods for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds in solution. However, examples for the corresponding solid-state cross-coupling reactions remain scarce. Herein, we report the first broadly applicable mechanochemical protocol for a solid-state palladium-catalyzed organoboron cross-coupling reaction using an olefin additive. Compared to previous studies, the newly developed protocol shows a substantially broadened substrate scope. Our mechanistic data suggest that olefin additives might act as dispersants for the palladium-based catalyst to suppress higher aggregation of the nanoparticles, and also as stabilizer for the active monomeric Pd(0) species, thus facilitating these challenging solid-state C-C bond forming cross-coupling reactions.

Raman spectroscopy of bottom-up synthesized graphene quantum dots: size and structure dependence

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted significant interest as synthetically tunable optoelectronic and photonic materials that can also serve as model systems for understanding size-dependent behaviors of related graphene structures such as nanoribbons. We present a Raman spectroscopy study of bottom-up synthesized GQDs with lateral dimensions between 0.97 to 1.62 nm, well-defined (armchair) edge type, and fully benzenoid structures. For a better understanding of observed size-dependent trends, the study is extended to larger graphene structures including nano-graphene platelets (>25 nm) and large-area graphene. Raman spectra of GQDs reveal the presence of D and G bands, as well as higher order modes (2D, D + G, and 2G). The D and G band frequencies and intensity were found to increase as GQD size increases, while higher order modes (2D, D + G, and 2G) also increased in intensity and became more well-defined. The integrated intensity ratios of D and G bands (I_D/I_G) increase as the size of the GQDs approaches 2 nm and rapidly decrease for larger graphene structures. We present a quantitative comparison of I_D/I_G ratios for the GQDs and for defects introduced into large area graphenes through ion bombardment, for which inter-defect distances are comparable to the sizes of GQDs studied here. Close agreement suggests the I_D/I_G ratio as a size diagnostic for other nanographenes. Finally, we show that Raman spectroscopy is also a good diagnostic tool for monitoring the formation of bottom-up synthesized GQDs.

Heteroatom-Doped Nanographenes with Structural Precision

Nanographenes, which are defined as nanoscale (1–100 nm) graphene cutouts, include quasi-one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and quasi-zero-dimensional graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) larger than 1 nm can be viewed as GQDs with atomically precise molecular structures and can thus be termed nanographene molecules. As a result of quantum confinement, nanographenes are promising for next-generation semiconductor applications with finite band gaps, a significant advantage compared with gapless two-dimensional graphene. Similar to the atomic doping strategy in inorganic semiconductors, incorporation of heteroatoms into nanographenes is a viable way to tune their optical, electronic, catalytic, and magnetic properties. Such properties are highly dependent not only on the molecular size and edge structure but also on the heteroatom type, doping position, and concentration. Therefore, reliable synthetic methods are required to precisely control these structural features. In this regard, bottom-up organic synthesis provides an indispensable way to achieve structurally well-defined heteroatom-doped nanographenes.

Polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds have attracted great attention of organic chemists for decades. Research in this direction has been further promoted by modern interest in supramolecular chemistry and organic electronics. The rise of graphene in the 21st century has endowed large polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds with a new role as model systems for heteroatom-doped graphene. Heteroatom-doped nanographene molecules are in their own right promising materials for photonic, optoelectronic, and spintronic applications because of the extended π conjugation. Despite the significant advances in polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds, heteroatom-doped nanographene molecules with sizes of over 1 nm and their relevant GNRs are still scarce.

In this Account, we describe the synthesis and properties of large heteroatom-doped nanographenes, mainly summarizing relevant advances in our group in the past decade. We first present several examples of heteroatom doping based on the prototypical nanographene molecule, i.e., hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC), including nitrogen-doped HBC analogues by formal replacement of benzene with other heterocycles (e.g., aromatic pyrimidine and pyrrole and antiaromatic pyrazine) and sulfur-doped nanographene molecules via thiophene annulation. We then introduce heteroatom-doped zigzag edges and a variety of zigzag-edged nanographene molecules incorporating nitrogen, boron, and oxygen atoms. We finally summarize heteroatom-doped GNRs based on the success in the molecular cases. We hope that this Account will further stimulate the synthesis and applications of heteroatom-doped nanographenes with a combined effort from different disciplines.

Synthesis of Nanographenes, Starphenes, and Sterically Congested Polyarenes by Aryne Cyclotrimerization

In recent years, synthetic transformations based on aryne chemistry have become particularly popular, mostly due to the spread of methods to generate these highly reactive intermediates in a controlled manner under mild reaction conditions. In fact, aryne cycloadditions such as the Diels-Alder reaction are nowadays widely used for the efficient preparation of polycyclic aromatic compounds. In 1998, our group discovered that arynes can undergo transition metal-catalyzed reactions, a finding that opened new perspectives in aryne chemistry. In particular, Pd-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of arynes allowed the straightforward synthesis of triphenylene derivatives such as starphenes or cloverphenes. We found that this reaction is compatible with different substituents and sterically demanding arynes as starting materials. This transformation is especially useful to increase the molecular complexity in one single step, transforming molecules formed by n cycles in structures with 3n + 1 cycles. In fact, we took advantage of this protocol to prepare a large variety of sterically congested polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as helicenes or twisted polyarenes. Soon after the discovery of the reaction, the co-cyclotrimerization of arynes with other reaction partners, such as electron deficient alkynes, significantly expanded the potential of this transformation. Also the use of catalysts based on alternative metals besides Pd (e.g., Ni, Cu, Au) or the use of other strained intermediates such as cycloalkynes or cycloallenes added value to this reaction. In addition, we realized that the Pd-catalyzed aryne cyclotrimerization reaction is particularly useful for the bottom-up preparation of well-defined nanographenes by chemical methods. Although the extreme insolubility of these planar nanographenes hampered their manipulation and characterization by conventional methods, recent advances in single molecule on-surface characterization by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with functionalized tips under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions, permitted the impressive visualization of these nanographenes with submolecular resolution, together with the examination of the corresponding molecular orbital densities. Moreover, arynes have been shown to possess a rich on-surface chemistry. In particular, arynes have been generated and studied on-surface, showing that the reactivity is preserved even at cryogenic temperatures. On-surface aryne cyclotrimerization was also demonstrated to obtain large starphene derivatives. Therefore, it is expected that the combination of aryne cycloadditions and on-surface synthesis will provide notable findings in the near future, including the "à la carte" preparation of graphene materials or the synthesis of elusive molecules with unique properties.

Synthesis and Properties of Conjugated Polymers Based on a Ladderized Anthanthrene Unit

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are interesting building blocks for the preparation of conjugated polymers due to their extended π surface and planar conformation. However, their use as comonomer in conjugated polymers often leads to nonplanar main chains as a consequence of high steric hindrance at the linking point. Herein, we report the synthesis of a ladderized anthanthrene unit using an sp3 carbon bridge. Three conjugated copolymers with fluorene, isoindigo, and bithiophene derivatives have been synthesized and characterized to study the effect of such ladderization on the electronic properties. The dihedral angle between the ladderized anthanthrene and adjacent units has been significantly reduced by the formation of the sp3 carbon bridge, thus eliminating the steric hindrance with the proton at the peri position of the anthanthrene unit and red-shifting the absorption spectrum by 25 nm.

Facile synthesis of carbon nanobranches towards cobalt ion sensing and high-performance micro-supercapacitors

We present a facile strategy for fabricating a new type of one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanomaterial named carbon nanobranches (CNBs) covered with botryoidal carbon dots (CDs) by direct pyrolysis of a green precursor (starch). The resultant CNBs display both photoluminescence and electrical conductivity and can be assembled into chemical sensors and energy-storage devices. In terms of their bright photoluminescence, CNBs with a fabulous crystalline structure are utilized as fluorescent probes to sensitively and selectively detect Co²⁺ with a very low detection limit of 2.85 nM and a wide linear concentration range from 10 nM to 1 mM. Moreover, an efficient micro-supercapacitor (micro-SC) is constructed based on conductive CNB fibers produced via a customized microfluidic spinning technique. The micro-SCs exhibit a large specific capacitance of 201.4 mF cm^-2, an energy density of 4.5 μW h cm^-2 and high cycling stability, and can successfully power 19 light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The main purpose of this paper is to offer a perspective into simplifying the connecting of research and industry by starting from green carbon-based materials.

Solution-processed nanographene distributed feedback lasers

The chemical synthesis of nanographene molecules constitutes the bottom-up approach toward graphene, simultaneously providing rational chemical design, structure-property control and exploitation of their semiconducting and luminescence properties. Here, we report nanographene-based lasers from three zigzag-edged polycyclic aromatics. The devices consist of a passive polymer film hosting the nanographenes and a top-layer polymeric distributed feedback resonator. Both the active material and the laser resonator are processed from solution, key for the purpose of obtaining low-cost devices with mechanical flexibility. The prepared lasers show narrow linewidth ( < 0.13 nm) emission at different spectral regions covering a large segment of the visible spectrum, and up to the vicinity of the near-infrared. They show outstandingly long operational lifetimes (above 10⁵ pump pulses) and very low thresholds. These results represent a significant step forward in the field of graphene and broaden its versatility in low-cost devices implying light emission, such as lasers.

Chemically synthesized graphene nanosheets offer device design flexibility and improved optoelectronic performance. Here, the authors report solution-processed distributed feedback lasers with graphene nanosheets as active media having linewidths < 0.13 nm, long operational lifetimes and low thresholds.

Open-Shell Nonbenzenoid Nanographenes Containing Two Pairs of Pentagonal and Heptagonal Rings

Nonbenzenoid carbocyclic rings are postulated to serve as important structural elements toward tuning the chemical and electronic properties of extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, or namely nanographenes), necessitating a rational and atomically precise synthetic approach toward their fabrication. Here, using a combined bottom-up in-solution and on-surface synthetic approach, we report the synthesis of nonbenzenoid open-shell nanographenes containing two pairs of embedded pentagonal and heptagonal rings. Extensive characterization of the resultant nanographene in solution shows a low optical gap, and an open-shell singlet ground state with a low singlet-triplet gap. Employing ultra-high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we conduct atomic-scale structural and electronic studies on a cyclopenta-fused derivative on a Au(111) surface. The resultant five to seven rings embedded nanographene displays an extremely narrow energy gap of 0.27 eV and exhibits a pronounced open-shell biradical character close to 1 (y₀ = 0.92). Our experimental results are supported by mean-field and multiconfigurational quantum chemical calculations. Access to large nanographenes with a combination of nonbenzenoid topologies and open-shell character should have wide implications in harnessing new functionalities toward the realization of future organic electronic and spintronic devices.

Exclusive occurrence of photoinduced energy transfer and switching of its direction by rectangular π-extension of nanographenes

As structure defined cutouts of the graphene lattice, nanographene molecules have gained plenty of attention because of their high potential for versatile applications in organic electronics and energy conversion devices and as ideal model systems for the better understanding of intrinsic structure-property correlations of graphenes. In this study, well-defined nanographenes with sp2 carbon networks of different sizes, hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) and its rectangularly π-extended version, a short graphene nanoribbon (GNR), have been covalently functionalized with photoactive porphyrin molecules. On the basis of their spectroscopic studies, the photodynamics of the porphyrin-linked nanographenes was found to be influenced substantially by the size of the nanographenes. Photoexcitation of the porphyrin-HBC linked system led to exclusive energy transfer (EnT) from the first singlet excited state (S1) of the nanographene to the porphyrin, whereas opposite selective EnT occurred from the first and second singlet excited states (S1 and S2) of the porphyrin to the nanographene in the porphyrin-GNR linked system. In particular, ultrafast efficient EnTs from both the S2 and S1 states of the porphyrin to GNR mimic the corresponding ultrafast EnTs from the S2 and S1 states of carotenoids to chlorophylls in light-harvesting systems of natural photosynthesis. Such unique photophysical properties will be useful for the rational design of carbon-based photofunctional nanomaterials for optoelectronics and solar energy conversion devices.

Pd-Catalyzed Annulation of 1-Halo-8-arylnaphthalenes and Alkynes Leading to Heptagon-Embedded Aromatic Systems

A palladium-catalyzed heptagon-forming annulation reaction between 1-halo-8-arylnaphthalene and diarylacetylene is reported. The reaction is promoted using a catalytic system comprised of Pd(OAc)₂ , moderately electron-deficient triarylphosphine P(4-ClC₆ H₄ )₃ , and Ag₂ CO₃ to afford benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2,3-de]naphthalene derivatives in moderate to good yields, in preference to fluoranthene as a competing byproduct. Twofold annulation can also be achieved to access a novel heptagon-embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound.

Molecular bilayer graphene

Bilayer graphene consists of two stacked graphene layers bound together by van der Waals interaction. As the molecular analog of bilayer graphene, molecular bilayer graphene (MBLG) can offer useful insights into the structural and functional properties of bilayer graphene. However, synthesis of MBLG, which requires discrete assembly of two graphene fragments, has proved to be challenging. Here, we show the synthesis and characterization of two structurally well-defined MBLGs, both consisting of two π-π stacked nanographene sheets. We find they have excellent stability against variation of concentration, temperature and solvents. The MBLGs show sharp absorption and emission peaks, and further time-resolved spectroscopic studies reveal drastically different lifetimes for the bright and dark Davydov states in these MBLGs.

Primary Nucleation-Dominated Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth for Uniform Graphene Monolayers on Dielectric Substrate

Direct chemical vapor deposition growth of high quality graphene on dielectric substrates holds great promise for practical applications in electronics and optoelectronics. However, graphene growth on dielectrics always suffers from the issues of inhomogeneity and/or poor quality. Here, we first reveal that a novel precursor-modification strategy can successfully suppress the secondary nucleation of graphene to evolve ultrauniform graphene monolayer film on dielectric substrates. A mechanistic study indicates that the hydroxylation of silica substrate weakens the binding between graphene edges and substrate, thus realizing the primary nucleation-dominated growth. Field-effect transistors based on the graphene films show exceptional electrical performance with the charge carrier mobility up to 3800 cm² V^-1 s^-1 in air, which is much higher than those reported results of graphene films grown on dielectrics.

Near-Infrared-Emitting Nitrogen-Doped Nanographenes

The quantum-size effect, which enables nanographenes to emit photoluminescence (PL) in the UV to visible region, has inspired intense research. However, the control of the PL properties of nanographenes through manipulation of their π-system by post-modifications is not well developed. By utilizing a ring-closure reaction between an aromatic 1,2-dicarboxylic acid and a 1,8-naphthalenediamine derivative, which produces a perimidine framework, nitrogen-doped nanographenes were realized. Two nanographenes produced by a one-pot reaction of edge-oxidized nanographene (GQD-2) with 1,8-naphthalenediamine derivatives (GQD-1 a and GQD-1 b) displayed an absorption band extending to >1000 nm; furthermore, the PL wavelength of GQD-1 a was significantly red-shifted into the near-infrared (NIR) region in which it can be used for bioimaging. Time-dependent DFT calculations of model nanographenes showed that the functional groups narrow the HOMO-LUMO gap, realizing the NIR-emitting nanographenes.

Triperyleno[3,3,3]propellane triimides: achieving a new generation of quasi-D 3h symmetric nanostructures in organic electronics

Rigid three-dimensional (3D) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in particular 3D nanographenes, have garnered interest due to their potential use in semiconductor applications and as models to study through-bond and through-space electronic interactions. Herein we report the development of a novel 3D-symmetric rylene imide building block, triperyleno[3,3,3]propellane triimides (6), that possesses three perylene monoimide subunits fused on a propellane. This building block shows several promising characteristics, including high solubility, large π-surfaces, electron-accepting capabilities, and a variety of reactive sites. Further, the building block is compatible with different reactions to readily yield quasi-D 3h symmetric nanostructures (9, 11, and 13) of varied chemistries. For the 3D nanostructures we observed red-shift absorption maxima and amplification of the absorption coefficients when compared to the individual subunits, indicating intramolecular electronic coupling among the subunits. In addition, the microplates of 9 exhibit comparable mobilities in different directions in the range of 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1, despite the rather limited intermolecular overlap of the π-conjugated moieties. These findings demonstrate that these quasi-D 3h symmetric rylene imides have potential as 3D nanostructures for a range of materials applications, including in organic electronic devices.

On-Surface Synthesis of a Nonplanar Porous Nanographene

On-surface synthesis provides an effective approach toward the formation of graphene nanostructures that are difficult to achieve via traditional solution chemistry. Here, we report on the design and synthesis of a nonplanar porous nanographene with 78 sp² carbon atoms, namely C78. Through a highly selective oxidative cyclodehydrogenation of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexa(naphthalen-1-yl)triphenylene (2), propeller nanographene precursor 1 was synthesized in solution. Interestingly, although 1 could not be cyclized further in solution, porous nanographene C78 was successfully achieved from 1 by on-surface assisted cyclodehydrogenation on Au(111). The structure and electronic properties of C78 have been investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy, noncontact atomic force microscopy, and scanning tunneling spectroscopy, complemented by computational investigations. Our results provide perspectives for the on-surface synthesis of porous graphene nanostructures, offering a promising strategy for the engineering of graphene materials with tailor-made properties.

Covalent and Noncovalent Approaches to Rigid Coplanar π-Conjugated Molecules and Macromolecules

Molecular conformation and rigidity are essential factors in determining the properties of individual molecules, the associated supramolecular assemblies, and bulk materials. This correlation is particularly important for π-conjugated molecular and macromolecular systems. Within such an individual molecule, a coplanar conformation facilitates the delocalization of not only molecular orbitals but also charges, excitons, and spins, leading to synergistically ensembled properties of the entire conjugated system. A rigid backbone, meanwhile, imposes a high energy cost to disrupt such a favorable conformation, ensuring the robustness and persistence of coplanarity. From a supramolecular and material point of view, coplanarity and rigidity often promote strong intermolecular electronic coupling and reduce the energy barrier for the intermolecular transport of charges, excitons, and phonons, affording advanced materials properties in bulk. In this context, pursuing a rigid and coplanar molecular conformation often represents one of the primary objectives when designing and synthesizing conjugated molecules for electronic and optical applications. Two general bottom-up strategies-covalent annulation and noncovalent conformational control-are often employed to construct rigid coplanar π systems. These strategies have afforded various classes of such molecules and macromolecules, including so-called conjugated ladder polymers, graphene nanoribbons, polyacenes, and conformationally locked organic semiconductors. While pursuing these targets, however, one often confronts challenges associated with precise synthesis and limited solubility of the rigid coplanar systems, which could further impede their large-scale preparation, characterization, processing, and application. To address these issues, we developed and utilized a number of synthetic methods and molecular engineering approaches to construct and to process rigid coplanar conjugated molecules and macromolecules. Structure-property correlations of this unique class of organic materials were established, providing important chemical principles for molecular design and materials applications. In this Account, we first describe our efforts to synthesize rigid coplanar π systems fused by various types of bonds, including kinetically formed covalent bonds, thermodynamically formed covalent bonds, N→B coordinate bonds, and hydrogen bonds, in order of increasing dynamic character. The subsequent section discusses the characteristic properties of selected examples of these rigid coplanar π systems in comparison with control compounds that are not rigid and coplanar, particularly focusing on the optical, electronic, and electrochemical properties. For systems bridged with noncovalent interactions, active manipulation of the dynamic bonds can tune variable properties at the molecular or collective level. Intermolecular interactions, solid-state packing, and processing of several cases are then discussed to lay the foundation for future materials applications of rigid coplanar π conjugated compounds.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-enabled acoustic devices for audible sound generation and detection

Acoustic devices are widely applied in telephone communication, human-computer voice interaction systems, medical ultrasound examination, and other applications. However, traditional acoustic devices are hard to integrate into a flexible system and therefore it is necessary to fabricate light weight and flexible acoustic devices for audible sound generation and detection. Recent advances in acoustic devices have greatly overcome the limitations of conventional acoustic sensors in terms of sensitivity, tunability, photostability, and in vivo applicability by employing nanomaterials. In this review, light weight and flexible nanomaterial-enabled acoustic devices (NEADs) including sound generators and sound detectors are covered. Additionally, the fundamental concepts of acoustic as well as the working principle of the NEAD are introduced in detail. Also, the structures of future acoustic devices, such as flexible earphones and microphones, are forecasted. Further exploration of flexible acoustic devices is a key priority and will have a great impact on the advancement of intelligent robot-human interaction and flexible electronics.

Regioselective Hydrogenation of a 60-Carbon Nanographene Molecule toward a Circumbiphenyl Core

Regioselective peripheral hydrogenation of a nanographene molecule with 60 contiguous sp² carbons provides unprecedented access to peralkylated circumbiphenyl (1). Conversion to the circumbiphenyl core structure was unambiguously validated by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, NMR, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. UV–vis absorption spectra and DFT calculations demonstrated the significant change of the optoelectronic properties upon peripheral hydrogenation. Stimulated emission from 1, observed via ultrafast transient absorption measurements, indicates potential as an optical gain material.

Graphene-Based Materials as Efficient Photocatalysts for Water Splitting

Photocatalysis has been proposed as one of the most promising approaches for solar fuel production. Among the photocatalysts studied for water splitting, graphene and related materials have recently emerged as attractive candidates due to their striking properties and sustainable production when obtained from biomass wastes. In most of the cases reported so far, graphene has been typically used as additive to enhance its photocatalytic activity of semiconductor materials as consequence of the improved charge separation and visible light harvesting. However, graphene-based materials have demonstrated also intrinsic photocatalytic activity towards solar fuels production, and more specifically for water splitting. The photocatalytic activity of graphene derives from defects generated during synthesis or their introduction through post-synthetic treatments. In this short review, we aim to summarize the most representative examples of graphene based photocatalysts and the different approaches carried out in order to improve the photocatalytic activity towards water splitting. It will be presented that the introduction of defects in the graphenic lattice as well as the incorporation of small amounts of metal or metal oxide nanoparticles on the graphene surface improve the photocatalytic activity of graphene. What is more, a simple one-step preparation method has demonstrated to provide crystal orientation to the nanoparticles strongly grafted on graphene resulting in remarkable photocatalytic properties. These two features, crystal orientation and strong grafting, have been identified as a general methodology to further enhance the photocatalytic activity in graphenebased materials for water splitting. Finally, future prospects in this filed will be also commented.

Scalable Production of Nanographene and Doping via Nondestructive Covalent Functionalization

A new method for top-down, one-pot, gram-scale production of high quality nanographene by incubating graphite in a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution at only 40 °C is reported here. The produced sheets have only 4 at% oxygen content, comparable with nanographene grown by chemical vapor deposition. The nanographene sheets are covalently functionalized using a nondestructive nitrene [2+1] cycloaddition reaction that preserves their π-conjugated system. Statistical analyses of Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate a low number of sp³ carbon atoms on the order of 2% before and 4% after covalent functionalization. The nanographene sheets are significantly more conductive than conventionally prepared nanographene oxide, and conductivity further increases after covalent functionalization. The observed doping effects and theoretical studies suggest sp² hybridization for the carbon atoms involved in the [2+1] cycloaddition reaction leading to preservation of the π-conjugated system and enhancing conductivity via n-type doping through the bridging N-atom. These methods are easily scalable, which opens the door to a mild and efficient process to produce high quality nanographenes and covalently functionalize them while retaining or improving their physicochemical properties.

Solution and on-surface synthesis of structurally defined graphene nanoribbons as a new family of semiconductors

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are quasi-one-dimensional subunits of graphene and have open bandgaps in contrast to the zero-bandgap graphene. The high potential of GNRs as a new family of carbon-based semiconductors, e.g. for nanoelectronic and optoelectronic applications, has boosted the research attempts towards fabrication of GNRs. The predominant top-down methods such as lithographical patterning of graphene and unzipping of carbon nanotubes cannot prevent defect formation. In contrast, bottom-up chemical synthesis, starting from tailor-made molecular precursors, can achieve atomically precise GNRs. In this account, we summarize our recent research progress in the bottom-up synthesis of GNRs through three different methods, namely (1) in solution, (2) on-surface under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions, and (3) on-surface through chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The solution synthesis allows fabrication of long (>600 nm) and liquid-phase-processable GNRs that can also be functionalized at the edges. On the other hand, the on-surface synthesis under UHV enables formation of zigzag GNRs and in situ visualization of their chemical structures by atomic-resolution scanning probe microscopy. While the on-surface synthesis under UHV is typically costly and has limited scalability, the industrially viable CVD method can allow lower-cost production of large GNR films. We compare the three methods in terms of the affordable GNR structures and the resulting control of their electronic and optical properties together with post-processing for device integration. Further, we provide our views on future perspectives in the field of bottom-up GNRs.

Biomarkers-based Biosensing and Bioimaging with Graphene for Cancer Diagnosis

At the onset of cancer, specific biomarkers get elevated or modified in body fluids or tissues. Early diagnosis of these biomarkers can greatly improve the survival rate or facilitate effective treatment with different modalities. Potential nanomaterial-based biosensing and bioimaging are the main techniques in nanodiagnostics because of their ultra-high selectivity and sensitivity. Emerging graphene, including two dimensional (2D) graphene films, three dimensional (3D) graphene architectures and graphene hybrids (GHs) nanostructures, are attracting increasing interests in the field of biosensing and bioimaging. Due to their remarkable optical, electronic, and thermal properties; chemical and mechanical stability; large surface area; and good biocompatibility, graphene-based nanomaterials are applicable alternatives as versatile platforms to detect biomarkers at the early stage of cancer. Moreover, currently, extensive applications of graphene-based biosensing and bioimaging has resulted in promising prospects in cancer diagnosis. We also hope this review will provide critical insights to inspire more exciting researches to address the current remaining problems in this field.

Bio-oil: a versatile precursor to produce carbon nanostructures in liquid phase under mild conditions

Renewable and low-cost bio-oil can be converted to carbon nanostructures in liquid phase under mild conditions.

Physicochemical exfoliation of graphene sheets using graphitic carbon nitride

The development of methods for the synthesis of graphene on a large scale at an affordable cost using less toxic materials has attracted significant interest in recent years.