Intrinsic Properties of Single Graphene Nanoribbons in Solution: Synthetic and Spectroscopic Studies

We report a novel type of structurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with uniform width of 1.7 nm and average length up to 58 nm. These GNRs are decorated with pending Diels–Alder cycloadducts of anthracenyl units and N-n-hexadecyl maleimide. The resultant bulky side groups on GNRs afford excellent dispersibility with concentrations of up to 5 mg mL–1 in many organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), two orders of magnitude higher than the previously reported GNRs. Multiple spectroscopic studies confirm that dilute dispersions in THF (