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Molecular Carbon Nanoscrolls

Research Project
 | 
01.02.2020
 - 31.01.2021

Bending a planar sheet of graphene into a seamless three-dimensional cylindrical carbon nanotube requires the curved nanostructure to pass through a stage where the two-dimensional graphene sheet can, instead of making the carbon-carbon bonds between its edges, roll further into a nanoscroll. The edges of such a carbon nanoscroll are not fused and the structure, which is held only due to collective action of van der Waals forces, displays different properties than a nanotube as a result of its unique spiral topology. Small circular fragments of single-wall carbon nanotubes that retain information regarding chirality and diameter of carbon nanotubes have been designed and synthesized in the past decade as precursors for their uniform bottom-up synthesis. To this date, however, no molecular precursors for carbon nanoscrolls exist.This research project aims at the design and synthesis of such molecular fragments of carbon nanoscrolls and develops solutions to stabilize the structure of a molecular nanoscroll. Synthesis of a series of molecular nanoscrolls with a complete first turn will be accomplished and their optoelectronic properties of the prepared molecules will be studied in detail. Successful completion of this research project will represent a major achievement that will open a new line of research in the field of carbon allotropes and deliver topologically new carbon-rich molecules, molecular analogues of carbon nanoscrolls that are obtained by rolling-up graphene sheets.

Funding

Molecular Carbon Nanoscrolls

SNF Projekt (GrantsTool), 12.2019-11.2020 (12)
PI : Solomek, Tomas.

Members (2)

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Tomas Solomek

Principal Investigator
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Sudhakar Ashok Gaikwad

Project Member