Three simple steps to make the longest graphene nanoribbon ever
By 
Fernando Gomollón-Bel2023-07-26T13:30:00
With 147 fused benzene rings and 920 conjugated atoms, the nanoribbon shows optoelectronic properties that could compete with quantum dots
A Lego-like synthesis previously produced record-breaking nanoribbons of 30, then 53 fused rings. Now, a similar ‘accelerated’ modular methodology made a molecular nanoribbon that is triple the longest ever made – in just three simple steps. The gargantuan graphene nanoribbon is almost 36nm long, featuring 147 linearly linked rings and a conjugated core of 920 atoms. The first experiments, although preliminary, promise great applications in electronics and optoelectronics, thanks to fluorescence features that outperform state-of-the-art quantum dots.