Size Control Methods and Size-Dependent Properties of Graphene - Carbon4Energy

Graphene, one of whose lateral sizes is confined to being one atom thick, has grabbed enormous attention ever since the discovery of this atomic thin layer of carbon crystal or polymer which was theoretically proved to be thermodynamically unstable. Size effects of the other two dimensions were then found and investigated. To precisely control the planar size of graphene and chemically convert graphene into nanoribbons or nanoshapes with regularity remains a challengiein this field. A few research groups including ours have pioneered some fundamental work on the size control of this atomic thin carbon layer, which we will summarize and expand in details here in this section. Meanwhile, variations in corresponding properties between different lateral sizes will be depicted. Furthermore, some unsolved problems preventing further progress will be illuminated and possible solutions to them will be given.