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Researchers reported making NR-147-Q, a molecular graphene nanoribbon with a 35.8 nm backbone, 147 fused rings and a 920-atom core, through three successive synthetic iterations. The route joins preassembled molecular segments rather than adding one small unit at a time. “Three steps” describes this laboratory synthesis—not a home procedure or a record for every kind of graphene nanoribbon.
What “longest graphene nanoribbon” means here
NR-147-Q was the longest member of the molecular nanoribbon series reported in the study. Its measured design comprises 147 linearly fused rings along a 35.8 nm backbone, with a 920-atom core. The starting molecular segments were approximately 2 nm long. Chem (2023) reports the molecular result; a contemporaneous account described it as a record at the time. ScienceDaily’s 2023 report
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This is a qualified claim, not proof that NR-147-Q is the longest graphene ribbon made by any technique today. Other graphene nanoribbons have been grown on surfaces, including examples measured in tens of nanometers. The distinction is that NR-147-Q is a discrete, chemically defined molecular ribbon made by solution-phase synthesis.
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The researchers used two complementary molecular building blocks: NR-7-Q, with o-quinone groups at its ends, and NR-11-A, with o-diamine groups. Their reactive ends can undergo imine-type cyclocondensation, creating pyrazine rings that join the segments. The strategy assembles longer ribbons from preformed sections rather than extending a short ribbon one small unit at a time.
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- First iteration: The complementary building blocks are joined to produce NR-27-Q.
- Second iteration: The iterative coupling approach extends the structure to NR-67-Q.
- Third iteration: A further iteration yields NR-147-Q, the longest member of the reported series.
The iteration count refers to successive molecular-growth operations in the reported route. It does not mean that making the material requires only three actions from raw chemicals: the available study summaries do not establish a full lab protocol, exact reaction conditions, yields or complete purification procedure. This is specialist chemical synthesis, not a practical household project.
What researchers could do with the resulting ribbons
The project report says the ribbons’ solubility enabled purification by column chromatography and structural, optoelectronic and redox characterization. It also reports correlations between ribbon length and properties, particularly electrical conductivity. CORDIS project reporting
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Length-dependent properties make precisely defined ribbons useful for studying how molecular structure affects electronic behavior. A 2023 account also discussed fluorescence and possible applications in electronics and optoelectronics, but characterized the experiments as preliminary. LEDs, photovoltaics and imaging are possible future directions—not demonstrated commercial products or ready-to-deploy technologies. ScienceDaily’s 2023 report
Why the result matters—and what it does not show
Making longer, structurally defined ribbons can help researchers investigate how size and molecular architecture shape optical and electrical properties. The modular route’s central contribution is its accelerated iterative construction of a long molecular ribbon from shorter blocks, combined with the ability to purify and characterize the resulting materials.
The reported result is not a head-to-head demonstration that this method is superior to every surface-growth or other synthesis technique. Methods can differ in length, edge and atomic control, number of synthesis and purification operations, solubility, and whether the product is a discrete molecule or a surface-grown structure. The available reports do not provide a balanced comparison across all those approaches.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Project context
The work sits within e-Sequence, an EU-funded project coordinated by the University of the Basque Country under grant agreement 722951. CORDIS lists the project period as November 1, 2017, through October 31, 2024; its reporting page was updated May 23, 2025. CORDIS: e-Sequence project
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