of material synthesis, but synthetic research should also investigate more sophisticated approaches. There is a profound difference in the level of synthetic complexity required depending upon whether graphene is targeted as a semiconductor,
window electrode, catalyst, or anode for a battery. Peeling off graphene from
graphite might be considered a “quick and dirty” experiment but it has, in an
ingenious way, furnished the material for a whole new physics. Polymer chemistry,
by contrast, although offering distinct advantages in terms of structural perfection
over a broad length scale and reliable structure–property relations, might have been
too complicated to allow such a physical breakthrough. Nevertheless, Scotch-tape
manipulation of graphite is not a basis for future robust technologies, and chemical
graphene synthesis as outlined above will remain an indispensable tool for
graphene-based materials science.
Polymer synthesis equally proves its value when it comes to the functionalization of graphene, such as addition reactions at the edges or in the interior of
the sheet. Returning to the role of semiconductors for electronic devices, silicon
still adopts a central role and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
However, graphene nanoribbons appear to be a more serious contender for silicon
than the long-studied linear conjugated polymers, but will not be able to attain their
potential without us fully utilizing the power and perfection of polymer synthesis.
Acknowledgements Synthetic breakthroughs in the fabrication of small conjugated molecules all
the way to complex, functional polyphenylene macromolecules have led to the achievements in the
synthesis of graphene and its derivatives. This would not have been possible without the immense
efforts of many skilled and creative chemists, both molecular and material, physicists, and engineers
that I have had the pleasure of working with. Therefore, I must express my sincerest appreciation for
the hard work of my colleagues and students that contributed to this work. I am truly amazed at the
successes we have experienced in transforming small molecules into the complex macromolecules
discussed herein, and the properties that these structure possess. May we continue this work towards
addressing new challenges and breakthroughs in the field of conjugated molecules.
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous funding that has contributed to this
research by the EU projects DISCEL (G5RD-CT-2000-00321), FP7-Energy-2010-FET Project
Molesol (FP7-Energy-2010 256617), EU Project GENIUS (ITN-264694) Superior (ITN-238177)
and the Integrated projects RADSAS (NMP3-CT-2004-001561), ONE-P (NMP3-LA-2008212311), NAIMO (NMP4-CT-2004-500355), MAC-Mes (Grd2-2000-30242), NANOGRAPH
(ERC-Adv.-Grant 267160). Additional financial support was provided by Volkswagen Stiftung,
MPG (ENERCHEM), BMBF (Projects LiBZ and Graphenoid-Lagen), the German Science Foundation within the frame of the ESF Projects GOSPEL (09-EuroGRAPHENE-FP-001), SONS2SUPRAMATES and SONS-BIONICS, Korean-German IRTG, DFG Priority Programs SPP 1355,
SPP 1459 and the Sonderforschungsbereich SFB 625. Industrial collaborations with BASF AG,
Ludwigshafen, Merck KGaA,, SONY, Hoffmann-La Roche AG, DuPont, and Sumitomo Chemical
were also essential to the success of this work.
References
1. Wu D, Zhang F, Liang H, Feng XL (2012) Chem Soc Rev 41:6160
2. Yang S, Bachman RE, Feng XL, Mu ¨llen K (2013) Acc Chem Res 46:116
3. Geim AK (2009) Science 324:1530
Graphene as a Target for Polymer Synthesis
85
window electrode, catalyst, or anode for a battery. Peeling off graphene from
graphite might be considered a “quick and dirty” experiment but it has, in an
ingenious way, furnished the material for a whole new physics. Polymer chemistry,
by contrast, although offering distinct advantages in terms of structural perfection
over a broad length scale and reliable structure–property relations, might have been
too complicated to allow such a physical breakthrough. Nevertheless, Scotch-tape
manipulation of graphite is not a basis for future robust technologies, and chemical
graphene synthesis as outlined above will remain an indispensable tool for
graphene-based materials science.
Polymer synthesis equally proves its value when it comes to the functionalization of graphene, such as addition reactions at the edges or in the interior of
the sheet. Returning to the role of semiconductors for electronic devices, silicon
still adopts a central role and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
However, graphene nanoribbons appear to be a more serious contender for silicon
than the long-studied linear conjugated polymers, but will not be able to attain their
potential without us fully utilizing the power and perfection of polymer synthesis.
Acknowledgements Synthetic breakthroughs in the fabrication of small conjugated molecules all
the way to complex, functional polyphenylene macromolecules have led to the achievements in the
synthesis of graphene and its derivatives. This would not have been possible without the immense
efforts of many skilled and creative chemists, both molecular and material, physicists, and engineers
that I have had the pleasure of working with. Therefore, I must express my sincerest appreciation for
the hard work of my colleagues and students that contributed to this work. I am truly amazed at the
successes we have experienced in transforming small molecules into the complex macromolecules
discussed herein, and the properties that these structure possess. May we continue this work towards
addressing new challenges and breakthroughs in the field of conjugated molecules.
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous funding that has contributed to this
research by the EU projects DISCEL (G5RD-CT-2000-00321), FP7-Energy-2010-FET Project
Molesol (FP7-Energy-2010 256617), EU Project GENIUS (ITN-264694) Superior (ITN-238177)
and the Integrated projects RADSAS (NMP3-CT-2004-001561), ONE-P (NMP3-LA-2008212311), NAIMO (NMP4-CT-2004-500355), MAC-Mes (Grd2-2000-30242), NANOGRAPH
(ERC-Adv.-Grant 267160). Additional financial support was provided by Volkswagen Stiftung,
MPG (ENERCHEM), BMBF (Projects LiBZ and Graphenoid-Lagen), the German Science Foundation within the frame of the ESF Projects GOSPEL (09-EuroGRAPHENE-FP-001), SONS2SUPRAMATES and SONS-BIONICS, Korean-German IRTG, DFG Priority Programs SPP 1355,
SPP 1459 and the Sonderforschungsbereich SFB 625. Industrial collaborations with BASF AG,
Ludwigshafen, Merck KGaA,, SONY, Hoffmann-La Roche AG, DuPont, and Sumitomo Chemical
were also essential to the success of this work.
References
1. Wu D, Zhang F, Liang H, Feng XL (2012) Chem Soc Rev 41:6160
2. Yang S, Bachman RE, Feng XL, Mu ¨llen K (2013) Acc Chem Res 46:116
3. Geim AK (2009) Science 324:1530
Graphene as a Target for Polymer Synthesis
85