Perfluorocycloparaphenylenes.

Perfluorinated aromatic compounds, the so-called perfluoroarenes, are widely used in materials science owing to their high electron affinity and characteristic intermolecular interactions. However, methods to synthesize highly strained perfluoroarenes are limited, which greatly limits their structural diversity. Herein, we report the synthesis and isolation of perfluorocycloparaphenylenes (PFCPPs) as a class of ring-shaped perfluoroarenes.

Double-Helix Supramolecular Nanofibers Assembled from Negatively Curved Nanographenes.

The layered structures of graphite and related nanographene molecules play key roles in their physical and electronic functions. However, the stacking modes of negatively curved nanographenes remain unclear, owing to the lack of suitable nanographene molecules. Herein, we report the synthesis and one-dimensional supramolecular self-assembly of negatively curved nanographenes without any assembly-assisting substituents.

Step-Growth Annulative π-Extension Polymerization for Synthesis of Cove-Type Graphene Nanoribbons.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), nanometer-wide strips of graphene, are attracting significant attention in materials science as candidates for next-generation carbon materials. As their physical properties mainly depend on their structures, the precise synthesis of structurally well-defined GNRs is highly desirable to control their properties. Herein, we report a step-growth annulative π-extension polymerization that allows for the rapid and modular synthesis of cove-type GNRs with pyrene and/or coronene diimide repeating units.

A Quest for Structurally Uniform Graphene Nanoribbons: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications.

Graphene nanoribbons are the class of next-generation carbon materials that are attracting many researchers in various research fields. Their unique properties, such as band gap, conductivity, carrier mobility, thermal conductivity, spin polarization, and on-off behavior, heavily depend on structural factors such as edge structure, width, and length. Therefore, the synthesis of graphene nanoribbons with control over these structural factors with atomic precision is crucially important.

Living annulative π-extension polymerization for graphene nanoribbon synthesis.

The properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs)-such as conductivity or semiconductivity, charge mobility and on/off ratio-depend greatly on their width, length and edge structure. Existing bottom-up methods used to synthesize GNRs cannot achieve control over all three of these parameters simultaneously, and length control is particularly challenging because of the nature of step-growth polymerization. Here we describe a living annulative π-extension (APEX) polymerization technique that enables rapid and modular synthesis of GNRs, as well as control over their width, edge structure and length.

Carbon Nanosheets by Morphology-Retained Carbonization of Two-Dimensional Assembled Anisotropic Carbon Nanorings.

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanomaterials possessing promising physical and chemical properties find applications in high-performance energy storage devices and catalysts. However, large-scale fabrication of 2D carbon nanostructures is based on a few specific carbon templates or precursors and poses a formidable challenge. Now a new bottom-up method for carbon nanosheet fabrication using a newly designed anisotropic carbon nanoring molecule, CPPhen, is presented.

Synthesis, properties, and crystal structures of π-extended double [6]helicenes: contorted multi-dimensional stacking lattice.

The synthesis and properties of a new π-extended double [6]helicene 2 and a dithia[6]helicene 3 are described. Compared to the previously reported parent double-helicene molecule 1, the introduction of n-butyl groups successfully improved the solubility, which allowed an experimental investigation into the electronic structure of 2 and 3 by photophysical measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The characteristic two-blade propeller structures of 2 and 3 were unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.