Deposition, Characterization, and Thin-Film-Based Chemical Sensing of Ultra-long Chemically Synthesized Graphene Nanoribbons

Abstract

Bottom-up synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) is an essential step toward utilizing them in electronic and sensing applications due to their defined edge structure and high uniformity. Recently, structurally perfect GNRs with variable lengths and edge structures were created using various chemical synthesis techniques. Nonetheless, issues like GNR deposition, characterization, electronic properties, and applications are not fully explored. Here we report optimized conditions for deposition, characterization, and device fabrication of individual and thin films of ultra-long chemically synthesized GNRs. Moreover, we have demonstrated exceptional NO 2 gas sensitivity of the GNR film devices down to parts per billion (ppb) levels. The results lay the foundation for using chemically synthesized GNRs for future electronic and sensing applications.

Graphene based metal and metal oxide nanocomposites: synthesis, properties and their applications

“…127 Among all reductants hydrazine monohydrate is the most important and certainly the most common and widely used reductant due to its strong reactivity and stability in aqueous media. The reduction of graphene oxide via hydrazine restores the π-electron conjugation within the aromatic system of graphite resulting in an enhancement of the electrical conductivity.…”

A theoretical study of gas adsorption on silicene nanoribbons and its application in a highly sensitive molecule sensor

“…Several experimental and theoretical studies of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) sensing properties have been already reported. [65][66][67][68] The CO, NO, NO 2 , and O 2 molecules are chemisorbed on armchair GNRs (AGNRs), while the adsorption of NH 3 and CO 2 on AGNRs is between weak chemisorption and strong physisorption. 67 It has been found that CO, CO 2 , NO, NO 2 , and O 2 molecules draw electrons from AGNRs, while NH 3 donates its electrons into AGNRs.…”

Evolution of Graphene Molecules: Structural and Functional Complexity as Driving Forces behind Nanoscience

“…Currentpotential curves were measured by Chongwu Zhou after the GNRs were deposited from solution between electrodes, and the resulting devices could even be used for gas sensing. 50 Since the fabrication of FETs with organic semiconductors 11,51 is often obstructed by large contact resistances it was important that the charge carrier mobilities could also be detected in a contact-free mode by terahertz spectroscopy in the group of Mischa Bonn. 52 Some key challenges for synthesis of future chemical GNRs are: i) to further increase their size while also varying the aspect ratios, and control the edge structures; ii) to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 incorporate heteroatoms; iii) to form block copolymers from GNR blocks with different widths and thus different bandgaps; and iv) to end-cap with functional groups toward anchoring at electrodes.…”