Well-defined sub-nanometer graphene ribbons synthesized inside carbon nanotubes

Hans Kuzmany (Corresponding author), Lei Shi (Corresponding author), Miles Martinati, Sofie Cambré, Wim Wenseleers, Jenő Kürti, János Koltai, Gergő Kukucska, Kecheng Cao, Ute Kaiser, Takeshi Saito, Thomas Pichler

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Graphene nanoribbons with sub-nanometer widths are extremely interesting for nanoscale electronics and devices as they combine the unusual transport properties of graphene with the opening of a band gap due to quantum confinement in the lateral dimension. Strong research efforts are presently paid to grow such nanoribbons. Here we show the synthesis of 6- and 7-armchair graphene nanoribbons, with widths of 0.61 and 0.74 nm, and excitonic gaps of 1.83 and 2.18 eV, by high-temperature vacuum annealing of ferrocene molecules inside single-walled carbon nanotubes. The growth of the so-obtained graphene nanoribbons is evidenced from atomic resolution electron microscopy, while their well-defined structure is identified by a combination of an extensive wavelength-dependent Raman scattering characterization and quantum-chemical calculations. These findings enable a facile and scalable approach leading to the controlled growth and detailed analysis of well-defined sub-nanometer graphene nanoribbons. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)221-229
Number of pages9
JournalCarbon
Volume171
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 103018 Materials physics

Keywords

  • Graphene nanoribbons
  • Electronic structure
  • Raman scattering
  • Resonance profiles
  • Albrecht theory
  • GW calculation

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