Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry in a Spirit of Graphene Engineering
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Abstract
Graphene has extraordinary physical and chemical properties. However, it still has its limits. Especially, graphene does not possess a bandgap, which is essential for transistor-based applications. It is believed that proper quantization and defect engineering of graphene can solve such problem. This thesis centres on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) chemistry related to these topics. The first part describes the synthesis of high molecular weight polyphenylenes, which are structurally suitable precursors for nanographene (NG) with size approaching 5 nm. The second part elaborates in-solution and on-surface synthesis employing azulene derivatives in order to construct carbon nanostructures related to defect architectures observed at graphene grain boundaries. The third part discusses the functionalization of NGs to alter their electronic properties, enable interaction with metal oxide surface, and photoswitchable self-assembly. The thesis aims at providing new insight into bottom-up approach of graphene engineering.