Molecular Encapsulation from the Liquid Phase and Graphene Nanoribbon Growth in Carbon Nanotubes

Growing graphene nanoribbons from small organic molecules encapsulated in carbon nanotubes can result in products with uniform width and chirality. We propose a method based on encapsulation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene from the liquid phase and subsequent annealing. This procedure results in graphene nanoribbons several tens of nanometers long. The presence of nanoribbons was proven by Raman spectra both on macroscopic samples and on the nanoscale by tipenhanced Raman scattering and high-resolution transmission electron microscopic images.

Automated summary

A new method proposed in this study can result in the growth of graphene nanoribbons from small organic molecules encapsulated in carbon nanotubes, producing products with uniform width and chirality, which was proven through experimental validation.