Project description DEENESFRITPL Pushing the boundaries of carbon chemistry with ionic nanographene Graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice, took the research world by storm when it was isolated for the first time in 2004. This accomplishment was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. A few short years later, scientists created a new form of graphene, grossly warped nanographene. This wildly distorted non-planar form is produced by the presence of five seven-membered rings and one five-membered ring embedded in the hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms, creating a molecule about one nanometre across. The EU-funded NanoRad project is now investigating a previously unknown form of grossly warped nanographene – grossly warped cationic nanographene. Scientists are exploring the self-assembly mechanisms of these ionic molecules and their potential for optoelectronics and energy storage devices. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Here, I propose the exploitation of hitherto unknown grossly warped cationic nanographenes and investigate their unique properties with a view to energy storage and luminescent devices. This Action combines aspects of odd-numbered ring (heptagonal) aromatic cations and open-shell aromatic systems, which are both underutilised in contemporary chemistry. The project will lend new fundamental insights into their self-assembly, optoelectronics, and redox chemistry, bringing them into the mainstream. Investigating these materials will also give insights into the roles of heptagonal defects in carbon nanomaterials, e.g. graphene. The primary objectives of this proposal are (1) to develop scalable synthetic routes to as yet unexplored open-shell warped nanographene ions containing tropylium cation (TP) cores, (2) to investigate and characterise their optical and electronic spin properties and (3) to carry out in depth DFT calculations. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsoptoelectronicsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM Net EU contribution € 212 933,76 Address STOCKTON ROAD THE PALATINE CENTRE DH1 3LE Durham United Kingdom See on map Region North East (England) Tees Valley and Durham Durham CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 212 933,76