  Carbon nanostructures with zigzag edges exhibit unique properties with
exciting potential applications. Such nanostructures are generally synthesized
under vacuum because their zigzag edges are unstable under ambient conditions:
a barrier that must be surmounted to achieve their scalable exploitation. Here,
we prove the viability of chemical protection/deprotection strategies for this
aim, demonstrated on labile chiral graphene nanoribbons (chGNRs). Upon
hydrogenation, the chGNRs survive an exposure to air, after which they are
easily converted back to their original structure via annealing. We also
approach the problem from another angle by synthesizing a chemically stable
oxidized form of the chGNRs that can be converted to the pristine hydrocarbon
form via hydrogenation and annealing. These findings may represent an important
step toward the integration of zigzag-edged nanostructures in devices.
