title: Self-assembled functionalized graphene nanoribbons from carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Graphene nanoribbons (GNR) were generated in ethanol solution by unzipping pyrrolidine-functionalized carbon nanotubes under mild conditions. Evaporation of the solvent resulted in regular few-layer stacks of graphene nanoribbons observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The experimental interlayer distance (0.49-0.56 nm) was confirmed by computer modelling (0.51 nm). Computer modelling showed that the large interlayer spacing (compared with graphite) is due to the presence of the functional groups and depends on their concentration. Stacked nanoribbons were observed to redissolve upon solvent addition. This preparation method could allow the fine-tuning of the interlayer distances by controlling the number and/or the nature of the chemical groups in between the graphene layers.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers and Composites/I3N, University of Minho, Campus of Azurem 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Proença
authors.affiliation: Physics of Semiconductors, Optoelectronics & Disordered Systems/I3N, University of Aveiro 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Florinda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Physics of Semiconductors, Optoelectronics & Disordered Systems/I3N, University of Aveiro 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: António J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: CICECO, Department of Ceramics & Glass Engineering, University of Aveiro 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marta A C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.affiliation: PIEP-Pole for Innovation in Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Azurém 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL Av. Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330, Braga, (Portugal).
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Debs
authors.affiliation: Computer Science & Technology Center, University of Minho Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melle-Franco
authors.affiliation: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL Av. Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330, Braga, (Portugal).
authors.forename: Francis Leonard
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Deepak
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers and Composites/I3N, University of Minho, Campus of Azurem 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paiva
keywords: graphene; molecular modelling; nanostructures; self-assemble