Nanocarbons for the Development of Advanced Catalysts

Solution-processed PEDOT:PSS/graphene composites as the electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Composites of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been prepared by solution mixing and applied as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) after treatment with concentrated H2SO4. The blending of rGO induces the conformational change of PEDOT chains from benzoid to quionoid structure and charge transfer from rGO to PEDOT. H2SO4 post-treatment can remove part of insulating PSS from the surface of the PEDOT:PSS/rGO composite film, resulting in a significant conductivity enhancement of the composite. This synergistic effect makes the H2SO4-treated PEDOT:PSS/rGO composite a promising catalyst for ORR. It exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic activity, better tolerance to a methanol crossover effect and CO poisoning, and longer durability than those of the platinum/carbon catalyst.

Identifying active functionalities on few-layered graphene catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane

The general consensus in the studies of nanostructured carbon catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes to olefins is that the oxygen functionalities generated during synthesis and reaction are responsible for the catalytic activity of these nanostructured carbons. Identification of the highly active oxygen functionalities would enable engineering of nanocarbons for ODH of alkanes. Few-layered graphenes were used as model catalysts in experiments to synthesize reduced graphene oxide samples with varying oxygen concentrations, to characterize oxygen functionalities, and to measure the activation energies for ODH of isobutane. Periodic density functional theory calculations were performed on graphene nanoribbon models with a variety of oxygen functionalities at the edges to calculate their thermal stability and to model reaction mechanisms for ODH of isobutane. Comparing measured and calculated thermal stability and activation energies leads to the conclusion that dicarbonyls at the zigzag edges and quinones at armchair edges are appropriately balanced for high activity, relative to other model functionalities considered herein. In the ODH of isobutane, both dehydrogenation and regeneration of catalytic sites are relevant at the dicarbonyls, whereas regeneration is facile compared with dehydrogenation at quinones. The catalytic mechanism involves weakly adsorbed isobutane reducing functional oxygen and leaving as isobutene, and O2 in the feed, weakly adsorbed on the hydrogenated functionality, reacting with that hydrogen and regenerating the catalytic sites.

Revealing the nature of the active site on the carbon catalyst for C–H bond activation

The single ketone group is determined to be the active site in ODH.

Ultrasound mediated synthesis of α-aminophosphonates and 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-ones using graphene oxide as a recyclable catalyst under solvent-free conditions

Graphene oxide functions as an effective and reusable carbocatalyst for the multicomponent synthesis of α-aminophosphonates and 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones under solvent-free conditions using ultrasonic irradiation.

Properties of strained structures and topological defects in graphene

Strain and defect engineering of graphene can modify the topological features of electronic states, leading to novel properties such as pseudomagnetism in bubbles and metallicity in extended topological defects. A consequence of graphene being a soft membrane is that it can be strain-engineered to become highly corrugated by modifying its adhesion to the substrate. Extended grain boundaries in graphene can be constructed from periodic combinations of nonhexagonal rings (5-7 pairs). However, a controlled method of producing these defects is not currently available. In this Perspective, we discuss some of the recent advances in studying the properties and formation mechanisms of strained structures and defects in graphene, extending across both physics and chemistry.