Methods for the bottom-up growth of graphene nanoribbons are provided. The methods utilize small aromatic molecular seeds to initiate the anisotropic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene nanoribbons having low size polydispersities on the surface of a growth substrate. The aromatic molecular seeds include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), functionalized derivatives of PAHs, heterocyclic aromatic molecules, and metal complexes of heterocyclic aromatic molecules.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate with higher efficiency. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a carbon nanohorn aggregate comprising a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate, is provided, which includes a step (a) of fixing the end of a rod-shaped carbon target to a fixing jig, and a step (b) of irradiating the rod-shaped carbon target with a laser light, and moving the irradiation position of the laser light in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped carbon target without rotating the rod-shaped carbon target.

A precision graphene nanoribbon (GNR) bridge molecule can include: a central GNR having a precision structure selected the following structural types: armchair, zigzag, cove, chevron, and fjord; a functional anchoring group at either end of the GNR selected from the following: amine, thiol, thioether, stannane, halide, boronic acid, boronic ester, azide, and carbene; a central functional conjugation group at a precisely specified location; and edge group functionalization with solubilizing groups selected from the following: linear and branched alkyl chains, substituted aromatic rings, oligoethylene glycol, carboxylic acids, and sulfonic acids.

Lithium ion battery anodes including graphenic carbon particles are disclosed. Lithium ion batteries containing such anodes are also disclosed. The anodes include mixtures of lithium-reactive metal particles such as silicon, graphenic carbon particles, and a binder. The use of graphenic carbon particles in the anodes results in improved performance of the lithium ion batteries.

Methods for the bottom-up growth of graphene nanoribbons are provided. The methods utilize small aromatic molecular seeds to initiate the anisotropic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene nanoribbons having low size polydispersities on the surface of a growth substrate. The aromatic molecular seeds include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), functionalized derivatives of PAHs, heterocyclic aromatic molecules, and metal complexes of heterocyclic aromatic molecules.

Lithium ion battery anodes including graphenic carbon particles are disclosed. Lithium ion batteries containing such anodes are also disclosed. The anodes include mixtures of lithium-reactive metal particles such as silicon, graphenic carbon particles, and a binder. The use of graphenic carbon particles in the anodes results in improved performance of the lithium ion batteries.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate with higher efficiency. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a carbon nanohorn aggregate comprising a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate, is provided, which includes a step (a) of fixing the end of a rod-shaped carbon target to a fixing jig, and a step (b) of irradiating the rod-shaped carbon target with a laser light, and moving the irradiation position of the laser light in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped carbon target without rotating the rod-shaped carbon target.

Provided is a fabric comprising a layer of yarns combined (by weaving, braiding, knitting, or non-woven) to form the fabric wherein the yarns comprise one or a plurality of graphene-based long or continuous fibers. The long or continuous fiber comprises chemically functionalized graphene sheets that are chemically bonded with one another having an inter-planar spacing d.sub.002 from 0.36 nm to 1.5 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction and a non-carbon element content of 0.1% to 40% by weight, wherein the functionalized graphene sheets are substantially parallel to one another and parallel to the fiber axis direction and the fiber contains no core-shell structure, have no helically arranged graphene domains, and have a length no less than 0.5 cm and a physical density from 1.5 to 2.25 g/cm.sup.3. The graphene fiber typically has a thermal conductivity from 300 to 1,600 W/mK, an electrical conductivity from 600 to 15,000 S/cm, or a tensile strength higher than 1.0 GPa.

A method for manufacturing a roll-shaped and continuous graphene film includes: S1. performing corona treatment on a PI film to obtain a corona PI film, and coiling the corona PI film into a coiled material; S2. heating the coiled material by a heater, and carbonizing the coiled material at a first temperature so as to form a microcrystalline carbon precursor; and S3. graphitizing the carbon precursor at a second temperature, so as to form a graphene film, where in the carbonization and graphitization processes, a central axis of the coiled material is perpendicular, in a same horizontal plane, to a movement direction of the flowing conveyor belt, and the coiled material is horizontally placed and circularly rolls over at 360 around the central axis. Graphene films can be efficiently and continuously produced from roll to roll in large scales with low costs. Moreover, a manufactured product has a high yield.

A compound represented by the following general formula (1) is used as a precursor of a graphene nanoribbon: ##STR00001##
where X's are independent of each other and are leaving groups, R's are independent of one another and are hydrogen atoms, fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, or 1-12C straight-chain, branched-chain, or cyclic alkyl groups, and each of p, q, r, and s is an integer in the range of 0 to 5.