2026-04-23 バーミンガム大学
Microscope images. Clockwise from top left: All-donor nanoribbon, all-acceptor nanoribbon, acceptor-acceptor-donor trimer, and donor-acceptor-donor trimer.
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/scientists-create-atomically-precise-molecular-chains-to-power-next-generation-tech
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71660-0
超狭幅ドナー・アクセプターナノリボン Ultra-narrow donor-acceptor nanoribbons
James Lawrence,Luka Đorđević,Fabienne Bachtiger,Harry Pinfold,Marc Walker,Jiong Lu,Gabriele C. Sosso,Davide Bonifazi & Giovanni Costantini
Nature Communications Published:23 April 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71660-0
Abstract
Donor–acceptor (D–A) architectures underpin many high-performance conjugated polymers but remain largely unexplored in atomically precise nanoribbons. Here, we report the on-surface synthesis of ultra-narrow D–A nanoribbons using two complementary brominated precursors based on the electron donor peri-xanthenoxanthene and the acceptor anthanthrone. High-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy, non-contact atomic force microscopy and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy reveal submolecular structural and electronic features of the resulting nanoribbons. Homopolymerisation of each precursor yields structurally well-defined donor-only and acceptor-only nanoribbons, whose electronic character strengthens with length. Co-deposition of both precursors produces mixed D–A nanoribbons with tuneable electronic structures governed by monomer sequence. The spatial character and energetic alignment of their frontier orbitals match gas-phase density functional theory calculations, while a simplified linear combination of molecular orbitals model captures dominant trends. This bottom-up synthetic strategy enables precise control over nanoribbon composition and functionality, offering a versatile platform for engineering π-conjugated nanostructures with tailored optoelectronic properties.
