Synthesis of wide atomically precise graphene nanoribbons from para-oligophenylene based molecular precursor

The exploration of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and understanding of the structure-property relationship requires the synthesis of GNRs with precisely controllable architecture. In this communication we report on bottom-up fabrication of wide armchair GNR from a para-oligophenylene based molecular precursor. The obtained GNR represents the widest rationally synthesized GNR up to now. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.