Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and nanoribbons (GNRs) are classes of nanographene molecules that exhibit highly tunable photophysical properties. There have been great strides in recent years to advance our understanding of nanographene photophysics and develop their use in light-harvesting systems, such as artificial photosynthesis. Here, we review the latest studies of GQDs and GNRs which have shed new light onto their photophysical underpinnings through computational and advanced spectroscopic techniques. We discuss how the size, symmetry, and shape of nanographenes influence their molecular orbital structures and, consequentially, their spectroscopic signatures. The scope of this review is to comprehensively lay out the general photophysics of nanographenes starting with benzene and building up to larger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, GQDs, and GNRs. We also explore a collection of publications from recent years that build upon the current understanding of nanographene photophysics and their potential application in light-driven processes from display, lasing, and sensing technology to photocatalytic water splitting.

石墨烯量子点 (GQD) 和纳米带 (GNR) 是纳米石墨烯分子的类别，具有高度可调的光物理特性。近年来，在推进我们对纳米石墨烯光物理学的理解和开发它们在光捕获系统（如人工光合作用）中的应用方面取得了长足的进步。在这里，我们回顾了 GQD 和 GNR 的最新研究，这些研究通过计算和先进的光谱技术为它们的光物理基础提供了新的启示。我们讨论了纳米石墨烯的尺寸、对称性和形状如何影响它们的分子轨道结构，进而影响它们的光谱特征。这篇综述的范围是全面阐述纳米石墨烯的一般光物理学，从苯开始，到更大的多环芳烃、GQD、和 GNR。我们还探索了近年来的一系列出版物，这些出版物建立在对纳米石墨烯光物理学的当前理解及其在从显示、激光和传感技术到光催化水分解的光驱动过程中的潜在应用的基础上。