By using the concept of LEGO chemistry, where molecular building blocks are assembled through targeted reactions, our team pioneered the development of atomically precise nanoporous graphene back in 2018 [1]. This graphene nanostructure behaves as a semiconductor where electrons flow along one nanometer wide graphene channels, akin to a carbon-based quantum nanocircuitry.
In a recent work, we have advanced in complexity by synthesizing a nanoporous graphene structure where the quantum channels are connected by molecular bridges that can be used to tune the interchannel coupling [2]. By bringing bridge engineering down to the atomic scale, we’ve unlocked a pathway to tailor quantum transport and electronic anisotropy in 2D nanostructured materials. We foresee a similar tunability with the phononic anisotropy, leading to novel approaches in the search of thermoelectric nanomaterials.
