Clean unzipping by steam etching to synthesize graphene nanoribbons

A simple, clean method of steam etching carbon nanotubes is reported for the synthesis of graphene nanoribbons. The chemical mechanism of carbon nanotube unzipping is also discussed. As an anode catalyst, as-prepared graphene nanoribbons combined with Pt exhibit quite a high catalytic activity for ethanol electro-oxidation in fuel cells.

Naifeng Zhuang, Chunchen Liu, Lina Jia, Lin Wei, Jindi Cai, Yonglang Guo, Yongfan Zhang, Xiaolin Hu, Jianzhong Chen, Xiaodong Chen and Yuxin Tang

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