The narrowest possible graphene nanoribbon was synthesized fifty years ago

Abstract

A survey of the organic chemistry literature for the past 50 years shows that graphene nanoribbon type molecules of only one benzene ring width, both with armchair (sexiphenyl) and zig-zag (hexacene) edges have been produced. The variation of the band gap of these molecules with the number of constituent aromatic rings is consistent with the behavior of graphene nanoribbons of corresponding orientations.