CAREER: Narrow Graphene Nanoribbons with Tunable Electronic Properties

在这个由化学系的高分子、超分子和纳米化学计划以及材料研究系的固态和材料化学计划资助的项目中，内布拉斯加大学林肯分校的亚历山大·西尼茨基教授正在开发大量合成石墨烯纳米带的方法。石墨烯纳米带是以六边形图案排列的碳原子的单原子厚的带状物，并且带状物单独地是人类头发直径宽度的一小部分。 石墨烯纳米带的电子性质对其宽度和沿着其边缘的原子组成非常敏感，因此设计能够精确控制纳米带内原子排列的合成方法非常重要。 Sinitskii教授正在开发从专门设计的分子前体制备石墨烯纳米带的方法。 该合成在溶液中进行，并且可以产生大量的石墨烯纳米带，其中可以指定它们的宽度和它们的边缘的原子组成。 石墨烯纳米带显示出有趣的电子和磁性，因此在电子技术中具有潜在的应用，例如场效应晶体管，逻辑门和光伏器件。 为了提高公众对碳基纳米材料在日常生活中日益重要的作用的认识，并传播该项目的成果，Sinitskii教授正在开发一系列关于碳基纳米科学和纳米技术最新发现的教育视频节目。Sinitskii教授还在开发新的纳米科学课程，以促进研究生、本科生和高中生以及高中教师在材料化学和纳米化学方法方面的教育。在这个项目中，Sinitskii教授正在开发一种自下而上的方法，以分子前体的溶液偶联和随后的氧化环化脱氢为基础，合成原子级精确的石墨烯纳米带。 对不同宽度和几何形状的石墨烯纳米带进行系统的研究，将为石墨烯纳米带的结构参数与其能带结构之间的相互作用提供基本的理解。Sinitskii教授还在研究如何通过沿着带的边缘掺杂氮来进一步调整石墨烯纳米带的能带结构。 纳米带正在测试在电子设备中的应用，包括场效应晶体管和气体传感器。该项目的更广泛影响来自石墨烯纳米带在碳基电子和光电子学中的潜在应用，以及计划的教育和推广活动。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry and the Solid-State and Materials Chemistry Program of the Division of Materials Research, Professor Alexander Sinitskii of University Nebraska at Lincoln is developing methods to synthesize large quantities of graphene nanoribbons. Graphene nanoribbons are single atom thick ribbons of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern, and the ribbons, individually, are a fraction of the diameter of a human hair in width. The electronic properties of graphene nanoribbons are very sensitive to their width and atomic composition along their edges, so it is important to design synthetic methods that can precisely control the atomic arrangement within the nanoribbons. Professor Sinitskii is developing methods to prepare graphene nanoribbons from specifically designed molecular precursors. The synthesis is performed in solution and can produce large quantities of graphene nanoribbons where their widths and atomic compositions of their edges can be specified. Graphene nanoribbons display interesting electronic and magnetic properties, and therefore have potential applications in electronic technologies, such as field-effect transistors, logic gates, and photovoltaic devices. To increase public awareness of the increasing role of carbon-based nanomaterials in everyday life and disseminate the results of this project, Professor Sinitskii is developing a series of educational video programs about recent discoveries in carbon-based nanoscience and nanotechnology. Professor Sinitskii is also developing new nanoscience courses to promote the education of graduate, undergraduate and high school students as well as high school teachers in the methods of materials chemistry and nanochemistry.In this project, Professor Sinitskii is developing a bottom-up approach to the synthesis of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons based on the solution coupling of molecular precursors followed by oxidative cyclodehydrogenation. A systematic study of graphene nanoribbons with different widths and geometries will provide a fundamental understanding of the interplay between the structural parameters of graphene nanoribbons and their band structures. Professor Sinitskii is also studying how the band structures of graphene nanoribbons can be further tuned by nitrogen doping along the edges of the ribbon. The nanoribbons are being tested for applications in electronic devices, including field-effect transistors and gas sensors. The broader impacts of this project derive from the potential applications of graphene nanoribbons in carbon-based electronics and photovoltaics, and the planned educational and outreach activities.