MRGS-Nano-Spec. · Nanoengineering of multicomponent reversible graphene superlattices: Probing the fundamentals from the molecular level to the device scale.

Nanoengineering of multicomponent reversible graphene superlattices: Probing the fundamentals from the molecular level to the device scale.

This project set out to explore the nanoengineering of single-layer graphene, an atomically thin sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure, with the goal of fabricating novel graphene-based hybrid materials with advanced functionalities. Although graphene displays exceptional chemical, physical, mechanical, and electrical properties, its intrinsic characteristics often limit its direct use in many technological applications and hinder the development of next-generation devices in fields such as optoelectronics, sensing, and energy harvesting. A promising way to overcome these limitations is through chemical functionalization, where carefully selected functional groups are covalently anchored to graphene, or by controlling the molecular orientation and self-assembly of physisorbed molecules at its surface. Both approaches offer the possibility of tailoring graphene’s properties in a highly controlled manner, creating customized materials with novel behaviors. The ambition of this project was to uncover the fundamental physical and chemical mechanisms governing multicomponent graphene functionalization and to use this knowledge to build a novel photo-switchable hybrid graphene superlattice. In parallel, the project aimed to advance nanoscale surface characterization of atomically thin graphene, enabling the visualization and understanding of defect distribution at the molecular level, a critical step toward precisely engineering new functionalities. The overall objectives were therefore to: • Develop facile and efficient covalent functionalization strategies to pattern graphene with high spatial resolution. • Explore and fabricate light-controlled photochromic molecules as building blocks for photo-switchable graphene superlattices. • Establish nanoscale optical and structural characterization protocols to upscale the fundamental knowledge of hybrid graphene structures. Through these objectives, the project directly addresses the demand for cost-effective, sustainable, and multifunctional materials. It also demonstrates the fabrication of novel hybrid graphene substrates, laying the foundation for future applications in optoelectronics, sensing, and nanotechnology.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз