Nanotomy-based production of transferableand dispersible graphene nanostructuresof controlled shape and size

摘要

Because of the edge states and quantum confinement, the shape and size of graphenenanostructures dictate their electrical, optical, magnetic and chemical properties. The currentsynthesis methods for graphene nanostructures do not produce large quantities of graphenenanostructures that are easily transferable to different substrates/solvents, do not producegraphene nanostructures of different and controlled shapes, or do not allow control of Gndimensions over a wide range (up to 100nm). Here we report the production of graphenenanostructures with predetermined shapes (square, rectangle, triangle and ribbon) andcontrolled dimensions. This is achieved by diamond-edge-induced nanotomy (nanoscalecutting) of graphite into graphite nanoblocks, which are then exfoliated. our results show thatthe edges of the produced graphene nanostructures are straight and relatively smooth with anID/IG of 0.22–0.28 and roughness <1nm. Further, thin films of Gn-ribbons exhibit a bandgapevolution with width reduction (0, 10 and ~35meV for 50, 25 and 15nm, respectively).