Issue 37, 2024

Impact of pyrene orientation on the electronic properties and stability of graphene ribbons

Abstract

We report the synthesis and study of trialkylsilylethyne-substituted “oblique” pyrene-fused acenes, carbon nanoribbons demonstrating near-IR absorption with reversible oxidation and reduction, and acene-like evolution of electronic properties upon extension of the aromatic core. Their electronic structures are investigated through DFT studies, which support the more delocalized nature of their frontier molecular orbitals compared to more common “vertical” pyrene systems. Despite a longer aromatic core, the more extended of the two examples demonstrates enhanced photostability compared to the shorter derivative, running counter to the trend in linear acenes. The unusual stability of the longer core is ultimately linked to its relatively low T1 energy inhibiting the generation of reactive O2 species. The byproduct generated upon photooxidation of the shorter nanoribbon appears to catalyze the generation of 1O2 due to its large T1 energy, leading to its relatively decreased stability.

Graphical abstract: Impact of pyrene orientation on the electronic properties and stability of graphene ribbons

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
18 jul 2024
Accepted
06 sep 2024
First published
18 sep 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 14816-14822

Impact of pyrene orientation on the electronic properties and stability of graphene ribbons

T. Smith, K. Thorley, K. Dimmitt, S. Parkin, O. Ostroverkhova and J. Anthony, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024, 12, 14816 DOI: 10.1039/D4TC03072A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements