Paper GR-TuP5
Soluble Precursor Synthesis of Grapheme and Graphene Nanoribbons

Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 6:00 pm, Room East Exhibit Hall

Graphene is currently produced typically through one of three routes: (1) some combination of mechanical and chemical exfoliation of graphite, (2) high temperature processing of SiC, or (3) through high-temperature catalytic methods on metal surfaces using simple carbon precursors such as methane. We are investigating and developing methods for synthesis of graphene through a molecular approach, in which the molecular precursors used already possess most of the C=C bonds necessary for graphene formation. A limitation of such approaches is that many of the precursors, e.g., pentacene, are only sparingly soluble and thus have difficulty being solution coated or have low volatility that prevent vapor phase deposition. Thus we have been investigating the use of soluble precursor molecules which form the graphene templates at higher temperatures or in the presence of catalysts. In particular, one approach toward solubilization that is under investigation is the use of reversible Diels-Alder chemistry to produce soluble grapheme precursor adducts. After solution coating of the materials onto appropriate substrates, the cycloaddition can be reversed at modest temperatures to produce the desired polyaromatic precursor and subsequently processed into grapheme through a further chemical or thermal consolidation. This presentation will review our progress to date in developing such techniques and will demonstrate the ability to form graphene from such approaches at relatively moderate temperatures. A discussion of the effect of choice of precursor on the ability to consolidate the material into graphene and its resulting quality will be presented.