IN SITU UNZIPPING OF CARBON NANOTUBES TO FORM GRAPHENE NANORIBBONS

We report the one step facile synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) by unzipping carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from glucose (C6H12O6) precursor, using a simple chemical vapor deposition method. Some nanotubes are partially cut resulting in a GNR–CNT hybrid whereas others are fully cut to form GNRs. The average length of GNRs achieved by this method is typically in the range of 1–10 μm. The formation of GNRs is ascribed to the in situ oxygen-driven unzipping of CNTs. The process is free from aggressive oxidants and utilizes the in situ unzipping. This method offers an alternative approach for making GNRs, compared to previously used techniques to synthesize GNRs.