Graphene nanoribbons are considered a possible replacement for silicon in future electronics due to their excellent carrier mobility and defined bandgap, arising from their edge geometry and ribbon width. While a number of synthetic approaches have been developed, scalable, well-defined methods are still needed. In this regard, we have developed a novel, bottom-up synthetic approach to narrow graphene nanoribbons having precise armchair edge geometry and ribbon width less than 2 nm. Our approach utilizes the solid-state topochemical polymerization of butadiyne monomers to produce a polydiacetylene polymer that can be subsequently aromatized to graphene nanoribbons via heating or irradiation. This approach allows us to define ensuing graphene nanoribbon width and edge geometry by design and modification of the monomer units. We have shown in particular that bis(6-methoxymethoxy-2-naphthyl)butadiyne undergoes the above transformations to provide graphene-like material with putative armchair (11)GNRs being formed as intermediates. The graphitic nature of our products was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM).

Bottom-up synthesis of graphene nanoribbons via the topochemical polymerization of polyacetylenes

251st National Meeting (2016)

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