Edge‐Functionalized Nanographenes

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 187 - 199
• Main Authors: Sekiya, Ryo, Haino, Takeharu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 04.01.2021
• Subjects: Chemistry; Energy gap; Functional groups; functionalization; graphene; graphene quantum dots; hybrid materials; nanographene; Optical materials; Optical properties; Quantum confinement; Structural analysis; functionalization; hybrid materials; nanographene; graphene quantum dots; graphene
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202003370

Nanographenes (NGs) have recently emerged as new carbon materials. Their nanoscale size results in a size‐dependent quantum confinement effect, opening the band gap by a few eV. This energy gap allows NGs to be applied as optical materials. This property has attracted researchers across multiple scientific fields. The photophysical properties of NGs can be manipulated by introducing organic groups onto their basal planes and/or into their edges. In addition, the integration of organic functional groups into NGs results in NG‐based hybrid materials. These features make the post‐synthetic modification of NGs an active research area. As obtainable information on chemically functionalized NGs is limited owing to their nonstoichiometry and structural uncertainty, their structural characterization requires a combination of multiple spectroscopic methods. Therefore, information on the characterization procedures of recently published chemically functionalized NGs is of value for advancing the field of NG‐based hybrid materials. The present review focuses on the structural characterization of chemically functionalized NGs. It is hoped that this review will help to advance this field. Postcards from the edge: Nanographenes are nanoscale graphene fragments. Owing to their photoemission properties, these carbons have attracted attention across multiple scientific fields. Recently, post‐synthesis modification of nanographenes has gradually gained attraction. These nanographene–organic hybrid materials are often difficult to characterize. This minireview sheds light on the characterization of nanographenes by spectroscopic methods.