Two‐photon absorption enhancement by the inclusion of a tropone ring in distorted nanographene ribbons

A new family of distorted ribbon-shaped nanographenes was designed, synthesized and their optical and electrochemical properties were evaluated, pointing out an unprecedented correlation between their structural characteristics and the two-photon absorption (TPA) responses and electrochemical band gaps. Three nanographene ribbons have been prepared: a seven-membered ring containing nanographene presenting a tropone moiety at the edge, its full-carbon analogue and a purely hexagonal one. We have found that the TPA cross-sections and the electrochemical band gaps of the seven-membered ring containing compounds are higher and lower, respectively, than those of the fully hexagonal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Interestingly, the inclusion of additional curvature has a positive effect in terms of non-linear optical properties of those ribbons.