![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Low-Res_James-Lawrence-nanoribbons.jpg\" "\\"Scientists")
Photographic and diagrammatic representation of a range of nanoribbons. Photo credit: James Lawrence<\/p>\nResearchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick, alongside the University of Vienna, have unlocked a \u201ctoolbox\u201d for the next generation of technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In particular, it could help build electronic components from molecular-scale electronic \u201cnanoribbons\u201d with atomic precision.<\/p>\n
The potential uses are many, ranging from smart clothing to quantum computing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis research creates a new toolbox for building electronic materials with atomic precision. Building nanoribbons directly on a metal surface can produce perfectly defined structures, which is difficult to achieve using traditional chemistry,\u201d said James Lawrence, who co-led much of this work as a PhD student at the University of Warwick.<\/p>\n
Photographic and diagrammatic representation of a range of nanoribbons. Photo credit: James Lawrence<\/p>\n
Donor-acceptor chemistry<\/p>\n
In this development, donor\u2013acceptor (D\u2013A) chemistry was used to build nanoribbons with atomic precision.<\/p>\n
The material\u2019s electronic behavior can be programmed before assembly by precisely alternating molecules that \u201cgive\u201d and \u201ctake\u201d electrons in specific sequences and lengths.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile atomically precise nanoribbons have been explored before, this is the first time they have been built by directly combining electron donor and acceptor units,\u201d said Professor Giovanni Costantini from the School of Chemistry and the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we can choose exactly where these units appear, we can design their electronic properties in advance and realize them with atomic precision,\u201d Costantini added.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the project successfully produced perfectly defined donor-only, acceptor-only, and mixed molecular chains.<\/p>\n
Advanced microscopy enabled visualization of individual atoms<\/a> and chemical bonds, allowing detection of tiny irregularities and measurement of electron behavior within the nanoribbons.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBy embedding donor\u2013acceptor concepts into these on-surface fabrication strategies it became possible to prepare extended nanoribbon structures that are otherwise difficult to make in solution,\u201d said Davide Bonifazi from the University of Vienna.\u00a0<\/p>\n This approach addresses the limitations of graphene-based nanoribbons<\/a> to shrink electronics. But graphene is stubborn. It doesn\u2019t naturally want to be a semiconductor.<\/p>\n Next-generation of electronics <\/p>\n Moreover, the study revealed that lengthening \u201call-D\u201d or \u201call-A\u201d ribbons enhanced respective donating or accepting strengths, while mixed ribbons<\/a> derived their unique properties from specific molecular sequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n These findings established a theoretical model that enables the creation of customized materials with application-specific electronic properties by precisely controlling subunit composition.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a modeling perspective, these nanoribbons show how atomic-scale design can be used to fine-tune real-world electronic properties. Capturing the effects of the supporting surface and local environment will be key to guiding this approach further,\u201d said<\/a> Gabriele Sosso from the University of Warwick in the press release. \u00a0<\/p>\n The researchers are already moving toward the next step: applying this atomic-scale design to create more efficient solar cells and advanced sensors.<\/p>\n