Pyrrole-Embedded Linear and Helical Graphene Nanoribbons
Dandan Miao, Vanessa Di Michele, Félix Gagnon, Cyril Aumaître, Andrea Lucotti, M. Del Zoppo, Frédéric Lirette, Matteo Tommasini, Jean‐François Morin
Abstract
Linear and helical graphene nanoribbons (L-PyGNR and H-PyGNR) bearing electron-rich pyrrole units have been synthesized by using the photochemical cyclodehydrochlorination (CDHC) reaction. The pyrrole units in the polymer backbone make the polymer electron-rich with moderate bandgap values and relatively high HOMO energy levels. The planarization of the pyrrole unit through cyclization yields a bandgap value almost 0.5 eV lower than that measured for polypyrrole. Conductivity values in the thin film up to 0.12 S/cm were measured for the chemically oxidized L-PyGNR (four-point method). Both GNRs showed excellent fluorescence sensing properties for TNT in solution with KSV values up to 6.4 × 106 M–1.