Chemists achieve breakthrough in the synthesis of graphene nanoribbons

Graphene nanoribbons might soon be much easier to produce. An international research team led by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. has succeeded in producing this versatile material for the first time directly on the surface of semiconductors. Until now, this was only possible on metal surfaces. The new approach also enables scientists to customize the properties of the nanoribbons. Storage technology is one of the potential applications of the material. The research team reports on its results in the upcoming issue of Science.