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Graphene quantum boxes: new quantum emitters at room temperature

Graphene is a fascinating material in many ways. Nevertheless,  the absence of bandgap is an important limitation for optoelectronic 
applications. This explains the current craze for the development of semiconductor materials with a structure compatible with the hexagonal 
network of graphene. In this context, the nanoribbons and quantum boxes of graphene are particularly attractive, since in theory their 
properties are tunable by the design of their size, their shape and the nature of their edges.

In a recent study, teams from LAC and LICSEN, in collaboration with the LPA and the Max Planck Institute (Mainz), have shown that it is
 possible to access the intrinsic properties of graphene quantum dots composed of 96 atoms. of carbon. In particular, they have shown that 
these objects emit individual photons with high purity, high gloss and good photostability. A detailed study of the photophysics of this system
 highlights the presence of a triplet level. Nevertheless, its short life time and the low connection ratio explain that the brightness of the object
 is not affected. These results represent a first step in the use of chemical engineering for the design of new graphene-based quantum emitters.

Authors:

Shen Zhao, Julien Lavie, Loïc Rondin, Lucile Orcin-Chaix, Carole Diederichs, Philippe Roussignol, Yannick Chassagneux, 
Christophe Voisin, Klaus Müllen, Akimitsu Narita, Stephane Campidelli, Jean-Sebastien Lauret
For more information: see S. Zhao et al Nature Communications 9, 3470 (2018)