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Wu Z, Wang E, Zhang G, Shen Y, Shao G. Recent Progress of Vertical Graphene: Preparation, Structure Engineering, and Emerging Energy Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307923. [PMID: 38009514 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Vertical graphene (VG) nanosheets have garnered significant attention in the field of electrochemical energy applications, such as supercapacitors, electro-catalysis, and metal-ion batteries. The distinctive structures of VG, including vertically oriented morphology, exposed, and extended edges, and separated few-layer graphene nanosheets, have endowed VG with superior electrode reaction kinetics and mass/electron transportation compared to other graphene-based nanostructures. Therefore, gaining insight into the structure-activity relationship of VG and VG-based materials is crucial for enhancing device performance and expanding their applications in the energy field. In this review, the authors first summarize the fabrication methods of VG structures, including solution-based, and vacuum-based techniques. The study then focuses on structural modulations through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to tailor defects and morphology, aiming to obtain desirable architectures. Additionally, a comprehensive overview of the applications of VG and VG-based hybrids d in the energy field is provided, considering the arrangement and optimization of their structures. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of VG-based energy-related applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng Wu
- State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Zhengzhou Materials Genome Institute (ZMGI), Building 2, Zhongyuanzhigu, Xingyang, Zhengzhou, 450100, China
| | - Erhao Wang
- State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Gongkai Zhang
- State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yonglong Shen
- State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Zhengzhou Materials Genome Institute (ZMGI), Building 2, Zhongyuanzhigu, Xingyang, Zhengzhou, 450100, China
| | - Guosheng Shao
- State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Zhengzhou Materials Genome Institute (ZMGI), Building 2, Zhongyuanzhigu, Xingyang, Zhengzhou, 450100, China
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2
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Tone CM, Zizzari A, Spina L, Bianco M, De Santo MP, Arima V, Barberi RC, Ciuchi F. Sunset Yellow Confined in Curved Geometry: A Microfluidic Approach. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:6134-6141. [PMID: 37072936 PMCID: PMC10157883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) in confined environments is an interesting research field that still awaits exploration, with multiple key variables to be uncovered and understood. Microfluidics is a highly versatile technique that allows us to confine LCLCs in micrometric spheres. As microscale networks offer distinct interplays between the surface effects, geometric confinement, and viscosity parameters, rich and unique interactions emerging at the LCLC-microfluidic channel interfaces are expected. Here, we report on the behavior of pure and chiral doped nematic Sunset Yellow (SSY) chromonic microdroplets produced through a microfluidic flow-focusing device. The continuous production of SSY microdroplets with controllable size gives the possibility to systematically study their topological textures as the function of their diameters. Indeed, doped SSY microdroplets produced via microfluidics, show topologies that are typical of common chiral thermotropic liquid crystals. Furthermore, few droplets exhibit a peculiar texture never observed for chiral chromonic liquid crystals. Finally, the achieved precise control of the produced LCLC microdroplets is a crucial step for technological applications in biosensing and anticounterfeiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Maria Tone
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zizzari
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Lorenza Spina
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Monica Bianco
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Penelope De Santo
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Valentina Arima
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristoforo Barberi
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Federica Ciuchi
- CNR-Nanotec, c/o Physics Department, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, cubo 31C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
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Memon WA, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Yan Y, Wang Y, Wei Z. Alignment of organic conjugated molecules for high-performance device applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2100931. [PMID: 35338681 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
High-performance organic semiconductor materials as the electroactive components of optoelectronic devices have attracted much attention and made them ideal candidates for solution-processable, large-area, and low-cost flexible electronics. Especially, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on conjugated semiconductor materials have experienced stunning progress in device performance. To make these materials economically viable, comprehensive knowledge of charge transport mechanisms is required. The alignment of organic conjugated molecules in the active layer is vital to charge transport properties of devices. The present review highlights the recent progress of processing-structure-transport correlations that allow the precise and uniform alignment of organic conjugated molecules over large areas for multiple electronic applications, including OFETs, organic thermoelectric devices (OTEs), and organic phototransistors (OPTs). Different strategies for regulating crystallinity and macroscopic orientation of conjugated molecules are introduced to correlate the molecular packing, the device performance and charge transport anisotropy in multiple organic electronic devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqar Ali Memon
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jianqi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yangjun Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yuheng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zhixiang Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
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Ge B, Zhang Q, Zhang R, Lin JT, Tseng PH, Chang CW, Dong CY, Zhou R, Yaqoob Z, Bischofberger I, So PTC. Single-Shot Quantitative Polarization Imaging of Complex Birefringent Structure Dynamics. ACS PHOTONICS 2021; 8:3440-3447. [PMID: 37292495 PMCID: PMC10249439 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Polarization light microscopes are powerful tools for probing molecular order and orientation in birefringent materials. While a number of polarization microscopy techniques are available to access steady-state properties of birefringent samples, quantitative measurements of the molecular orientation dynamics on the millisecond time scale have remained a challenge. We propose polarized shearing interference microscopy (PSIM), a single-shot quantitative polarization imaging method, for extracting the retardance and orientation angle of the laser beam transmitting through optically anisotropic specimens with complex structures. The measurement accuracy and imaging performance of PSIM are validated by imaging a birefringent resolution target and a bovine tendon specimen. We demonstrate that PSIM can quantify the dynamics of a flowing lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal in a microfluidic channel at an imaging speed of 506 frames per second (only limited by the camera frame rate), with a field-of-view of up to 350 × 350 μm2 and a diffraction-limit spatial resolution of ~2 μm. We envision that PSIM will find a broad range of applications in quantitative material characterization under dynamical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoliang Ge
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Laser Biomedical Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jing-Tang Lin
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106 Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Po-Hang Tseng
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106 Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Che-Wei Chang
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106 Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chen-Yuan Dong
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106 Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Zahid Yaqoob
- Laser Biomedical Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Irmgard Bischofberger
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Peter T C So
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Laser Biomedical Research Center and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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5
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Structures and topological defects in pressure-driven lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2108361118. [PMID: 34446562 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108361118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals are water-based materials composed of self-assembled cylindrical aggregates. Their behavior under flow is poorly understood, and quantitatively resolving the optical retardance of the flowing liquid crystal has so far been limited by the imaging speed of current polarization-resolved imaging techniques. Here, we employ a single-shot quantitative polarization imaging method, termed polarized shearing interference microscopy, to quantify the spatial distribution and the dynamics of the structures emerging in nematic disodium cromoglycate solutions in a microfluidic channel. We show that pure-twist disclination loops nucleate in the bulk flow over a range of shear rates. These loops are elongated in the flow direction and exhibit a constant aspect ratio that is governed by the nonnegligible splay-bend anisotropy at the loop boundary. The size of the loops is set by the balance between nucleation forces and annihilation forces acting on the disclination. The fluctuations of the pure-twist disclination loops reflect the tumbling character of nematic disodium cromoglycate. Our study, including experiment, simulation, and scaling analysis, provides a comprehensive understanding of the structure and dynamics of pressure-driven lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals and might open new routes for using these materials to control assembly and flow of biological systems or particles in microfluidic devices.
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Abstract
Nematic and columnar phases of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) have been long studied for their fundamental and applied prospects in material science and medical diagnostics. LCLC phases represent different self-assembled states of disc-shaped molecules, held together by noncovalent interactions that lead to highly sensitive concentration and temperature dependent properties. Yet, microscale insights into confined LCLCs, specifically in the context of confinement geometry and surface properties, are lacking. Here, we report the emergence of time dependent textures in static disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) solutions, confined in PDMS-based microfluidic devices. We use a combination of soft lithography, surface characterization, and polarized optical imaging to generate and analyze the confinement-induced LCLC textures and demonstrate that over time, herringbone and spherulite textures emerge due to spontaneous nematic (N) to columnar M-phase transition, propagating from the LCLC-PDMS interface into the LCLC bulk. By varying the confinement geometry, anchoring conditions, and the initial DSCG concentration, we can systematically tune the temporal dynamics of the N- to M-phase transition and textural behavior of the confined LCLC. Overall, the time taken to change from nematic to the characteristic M-phase textures decreased as the confinement aspect ratio (width/depth) increased. For a given aspect ratio, the transition to the M-phase was generally faster in degenerate planar confinements, relative to the transition in homeotropic confinements. Since the static molecular states register the initial conditions for LC flows, the time dependent textures reported here suggest that the surface and confinement effects—even under static conditions—could be central in understanding the flow behavior of LCLCs and the associated transport properties of this versatile material.
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Baza H, Turiv T, Li BX, Li R, Yavitt BM, Fukuto M, Lavrentovich OD. Shear-induced polydomain structures of nematic lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal disodium cromoglycate. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:8565-8576. [PMID: 32785364 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01259a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) represent aqueous dispersions of organic disk-like molecules that form cylindrical aggregates. Despite the growing interest in these materials, their flow behavior is poorly understood. Here, we explore the effect of shear on dynamic structures of the nematic LCLC, formed by 14 wt% water dispersion of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG). We employ in situ polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) to obtain independent and complementary information on the director structures over a wide range of shear rates. The DSCG nematic shows a shear-thinning behavior with two shear-thinning regions (Region I at [small gamma, Greek, dot above] < 1 s-1 and Region III at [small gamma, Greek, dot above] > 10 s-1) separated by a pseudo-Newtonian Region II (1 s-1 < [small gamma, Greek, dot above] < 10 s-1). The material is of a tumbling type. In Region I, [small gamma, Greek, dot above] < 1 s-1, the director realigns along the vorticity axis. An increase of [small gamma, Greek, dot above] above 1 s-1 triggers nucleation of disclination loops. The disclinations introduce patches of the director that deviates from the vorticity direction and form a polydomain texture. Extension of the domains along the flow and along the vorticity direction decreases with the increase of the shear rate to 10 s-1. Above 10 s-1, the domains begin to elongate along the flow. At [small gamma, Greek, dot above] > 100 s-1, the texture evolves into periodic stripes in which the director is predominantly along the flow with left and right tilts. The period of stripes decreases with an increase of [small gamma, Greek, dot above]. The shear-induced transformations are explained by the balance of the elastic and viscous energies. In particular, nucleation of disclinations is associated with an increase of the elastic energy at the walls separating nonsingular domains with different director tilts. The uncovered shear-induced structural effects would be of importance in the further development of LCLC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend Baza
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Taras Turiv
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Bing-Xiang Li
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Ruipeng Li
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Benjamin M Yavitt
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA and Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Masafumi Fukuto
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Oleg D Lavrentovich
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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Matus Rivas OM, Rey AD. Molecular Dynamics Study of the Effect of l-Alanine Chiral Dopants on Diluted Chromonic Solutions. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:8995-9010. [PMID: 31525883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b06111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations have been performed for disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) chromonic solutions mixed with l-alanine chiral dopants. We study the fundamental molecular mechanisms induced by low concentrations of l-alanine on diluted DSCG solutions, including their effect on the chromonic aggregates, the solvent, and sodium counterions. Simulations reveal that l-alanine molecules primarily interact with DSCG stacks establishing salt bridges between their respective ammonium and carboxylate groups. Our results demonstrate that l-alanine and sodium counterions jointly establish an intricate network of noncovalent interactions around DSCG aggregates that decreases the global electrostatic repulsion of the chromonic system. Two possible structural effects in DSCG aggregates arise from this electronic stabilization: the increment of the total number of consecutively stacked aromatic planes per DSCG aggregate (intracolumnar effect) or the partial separation reduction between neighboring DSCG columnar sections due to the simultaneous bridging of intercolumnar DSCG carboxylate sites by sodium counterions, forming sodium bridges (intercolumnar effect). Sodium bridges may be responsible for the formation of stacking faults in DSCG aggregates in the form of lateral overlap junctions. This mechanism would explain the difference between lower X-ray correlation lengths with the expected persistence length in chromonics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar M Matus Rivas
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3A 0C5 , Canada
| | - Alejandro D Rey
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3A 0C5 , Canada
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Zhou S. Recent progresses in lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal research: elasticity, viscosity, defect structures, and living liquid crystals. LIQUID CRYSTALS TODAY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/1358314x.2018.1570593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhou
- Physics Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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10
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Matus Rivas OM, Rey AD. Effects of Sodium and Magnesium Cations on the Aggregation of Chromonic Solutions Using Molecular Dynamics. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:1718-1732. [PMID: 30672292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) constitute a unique variety of water-soluble mesogens that spontaneously assemble into elongated aggregates, thereby resulting in the formation of liquid crystal phases depending on the temperature and concentration. The influence of ionic additives on the aggregation of LCLC has been extensively studied, but the molecular mechanisms governing these effects remain unclear. In this investigation, we perform atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of dilute sunset yellow (SSY) LCLC solutions doped with NaCl and MgCl2 salts. Structural and dynamical properties of SSY hydration shells are considerably modified by the partial substitution of their H bonds with sodium/magnesium-sulfonate ion pairs. Although the intermolecular distance of ∼3.4 Å between SSY mesogens is preserved regardless of the ionic content, the growing number of ion pairs favors the reduction of the electrostatic repulsion between mesogens, increasing the length of SSY stacks. Moreover, magnesium cations exert the strongest electrostatic effects due to their higher hydration capabilities and acute electrostatic binding to SSY. For these reasons, experimental observations of dilute SSY solutions doped with Mg2+ exhibit higher nematic-to-isotropic transition temperatures than Na+. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the influence of ionic additives on the self-assembly of diluted LCLC solutions derived from the synergistic molecular mechanisms between mesogens, the solvent, and cations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar M Matus Rivas
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3A OC5 , Canada
| | - Alejandro D Rey
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec H3A OC5 , Canada
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Padmajan Sasikala S, Lim J, Kim IH, Jung HJ, Yun T, Han TH, Kim SO. Graphene oxide liquid crystals: a frontier 2D soft material for graphene-based functional materials. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:6013-6045. [PMID: 30009312 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00299a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Graphene, despite being the best known strong and electrical/thermal conductive material, has found limited success in practical applications, mostly due to difficulties in the formation of desired large-scale highly organized structures. Our discovery of a liquid crystalline phase formation in graphene oxide dispersion has enabled a broad spectrum of highly aligned graphene-based structures, including films, fibers, membranes, and mesoscale structures. In this review, the current understanding of the structure-property relationship of graphene oxide liquid crystals (GOLCs) is overviewed. Various synthetic methods and parameters that can be optimized for GOLC phase formation are highlighted. Along with the results from different characterization methods for the identification of the GOLC phases, the typical characteristics of different types of GOLC phases introduced so far, including nematic, lamellar and chiral phases, are carefully discussed. Finally, various interesting applications of GOLCs are outlined together with the future prospects for their further developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchithra Padmajan Sasikala
- National Creative Research Initiative Centre for Multi-Dimensional Directed Nanoscale Assembly, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Khim D, Luzio A, Bonacchini GE, Pace G, Lee MJ, Noh YY, Caironi M. Uniaxial Alignment of Conjugated Polymer Films for High-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1705463. [PMID: 29582485 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Polymer semiconductors have been experiencing a remarkable improvement in electronic and optoelectronic properties, which are largely related to the recent development of a vast library of high-performance, donor-acceptor copolymers showing alternation of chemical moieties with different electronic affinities along their backbones. Such steady improvement is making conjugated polymers even more appealing for large-area and flexible electronic applications, from distributed and portable electronics to healthcare devices, where cost-effective manufacturing, light weight, and ease of integration represent key benefits. Recently, a strong boost to charge carrier mobility in polymer-based field-effect transistors, consistently achieving the range from 1.0 to 10 cm2 V-1 s-1 for both holes and electrons, has been given by uniaxial backbone alignment of polymers in thin films, inducing strong transport anisotropy and favoring enhanced transport properties along the alignment direction. Herein, an overview on this topic is provided with a focus on the processing-structure-property relationships that enable the controlled and uniform alignment of polymer films over large areas with scalable processes. The key aspects are specific molecular structures, such as planarized backbones with a reduced degree of conformational disorder, solution formulation with controlled aggregation, and deposition techniques inducing suitable directional flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyoon Khim
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, 30 Pildong-ro, 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Alessandro Luzio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ernesto Bonacchini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pace
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Mi-Jung Lee
- School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University, 77 Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-712, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Young Noh
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, 30 Pildong-ro, 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Mario Caironi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy
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He Y, Han Q, Yang X, Zhang C, Zheng J, Huo Y. Division Electrosynthesis of Palladium Nanomaterials with Copper-Graphene as Sacrificial Templates and Its Application for Hydrazine Sensing. J CHIN CHEM SOC-TAIP 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jccs.201700043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yaping He
- School of Chemical Engineering; Xi'an University; Xi'an Shaanxi 710065 P. R. China
| | - Quan Han
- School of Chemical Engineering; Xi'an University; Xi'an Shaanxi 710065 P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- School of Chemical Engineering; Xi'an University; Xi'an Shaanxi 710065 P. R. China
| | - Changhu Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering; Xi'an University; Xi'an Shaanxi 710065 P. R. China
| | - Jianbin Zheng
- Institute of Analytical Science/Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry; Northwest University; Xi'an Shaanxi 710069 P. R. China
| | - Yanyan Huo
- School of Chemical Engineering; Xi'an University; Xi'an Shaanxi 710065 P. R. China
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Using chiral tactoids as optical probes to study the aggregation behavior of chromonics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:3826-3831. [PMID: 28336530 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1614620114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tactoids are nuclei of an orientationally ordered nematic phase that emerge upon cooling the isotropic phase. In addition to providing a natural setting for exploring chromonics under confinement, we show that tactoids can also serve as optical probes to delineate the role of temperature and concentration in the aggregation behavior of chromonics. For high concentrations, we observe the commonly reported elongated bipolar tactoids. As the concentration is lowered, breaking of achiral symmetry in the director configuration is observed with a predominance of twisted bipolar tactoids. On further reduction of concentration, a remarkable transformation of the director configuration occurs, wherein it conforms to a unique splay-minimizing configuration. Based on a simple model, we arrive at an interesting result that lower concentrations have longer aggregates at the same reduced temperature. Hence, the splay deformation that scales linearly with the aggregate length becomes prohibitive for lower concentrations and is relieved via twist and bend deformations in this unique configuration. Raman scattering measurements of the order parameters independently verify the trend in aggregate lengths and provide a physical picture of the nematic-biphasic transition.
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Controllable growth of vertically aligned graphene on C-face SiC. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34814. [PMID: 27708399 PMCID: PMC5052588 DOI: 10.1038/srep34814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated how to control the growth of vertically aligned graphene on C-face SiC by varying the processing conditions. It is found that, the growth rate scales with the annealing temperature and the graphene height is proportional to the annealing time. Temperature gradient and crystalline quality of the SiC substrates influence their vaporization. The partial vapor pressure is crucial as it can interfere with further vaporization. A growth mechanism is proposed in terms of physical vapor transport. The monolayer character of vertically aligned graphene is verified by Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. With the processed samples, d0 magnetism is realized and negative magnetoresistance is observed after Cu implantation. We also prove that multiple carriers exist in vertically aligned graphene.
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Yao X, Nayani K, Park JO, Srinivasarao M. Orientational Order of a Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystal Measured by Polarized Raman Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:4508-12. [PMID: 27074395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b02054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals are distinct from thermotropic nematics from a fundamental standpoint as the structure of the aggregating columns is a function of both the temperature and concentration. We report on the thermal evolution of orientational order parameters, both the second (=scalar) (⟨P200⟩ (=S)) and fourth (⟨P400⟩) order, of sunset yellow FCF aqueous solutions, measured using polarized Raman spectroscopy for different concentrations. The order parameter increases with the concentration, and their values are high in comparison with those of thermotropic liquid crystals. On the basis of Raman spectroscopy, we provide the strongest evidence yet that the hydrozone tautomer of SSY is the predominant form in aqueous solutions in the isotropic, nematic, and columnar phases, as well as what we believe to be the first measurements of (⟨P400⟩) for this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuxia Yao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, ‡School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and §Center for Advanced Research on Optical Microscopy, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Karthik Nayani
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, ‡School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and §Center for Advanced Research on Optical Microscopy, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jung Ok Park
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, ‡School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and §Center for Advanced Research on Optical Microscopy, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Mohan Srinivasarao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, ‡School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and §Center for Advanced Research on Optical Microscopy, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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Levchenko I, Fang J, Ostrikov K(K, Lorello L, Keidar M. Morphological Characterization of Graphene Flake Networks Using Minkowski Functionals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.4236/graphene.2016.51003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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18
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Yamaguchi A, Smith GP, Yi Y, Xu C, Biffi S, Serra F, Bellini T, Zhu C, Clark NA. Phases and structures of sunset yellow and disodium cromoglycate mixtures in water. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:012704. [PMID: 26871132 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.012704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We study phases and structures of mixtures of two representative chromonic liquid crystal materials, sunset yellow FCF (SSY) and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), in water. A variety of combinations of isotropic, nematic (N), and columnar (also called M) phases are observed depending on their concentrations, and a phase diagram is made. We find a tendency for DSCG-rich regions to show higher-order phases while SSY-rich regions show lower-order ones. We observe uniform mesophases only when one of the materials is sparse in the N phases. Their miscibility in M phases is so low that essentially complete phase separation occurs. X-ray scattering and spectroscopy studies confirm that SSY and DSCG molecules do not mix when they form chromonic aggregates and neither do their aggregates when they form M phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Yamaguchi
- Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Gregory P Smith
- Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Youngwoo Yi
- Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Charles Xu
- Fairview High School, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
| | - Silvia Biffi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Serra
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Chenhui Zhu
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Noel A Clark
- Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
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Zhao WH, Yang LJ, Qing LH, Lv XM, Yi LY, Li H, Chen ZQ. The strong effect of substituents on the carbonyl reduction in graphene oxide: A DFT study. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2015.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Zimmermann N, Jünnemann-Held G, Collings PJ, Kitzerow HS. Self-organized assemblies of colloidal particles obtained from an aligned chromonic liquid crystal dispersion. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:1547-1553. [PMID: 25589441 DOI: 10.1039/c4sm02579b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of mono-disperse colloidal particles in a chromonic liquid crystal was investigated. Poly(methyl methacrylate) spherical particles with three different functionalizations, with and without surface charges, were utilized in the nematic and columnar phases of disodium cromoglycate solutions. The nematic phase was completely aligned parallel to the glass substrates by a simple rubbing technique, and the columnar phase showed regions of similar alignment. The behavior of the colloidal particles in the chromonic liquid crystal depended critically on the functionality, with bromine functionalized particles not dispersing at all, and cationic trimethylammonium and epoxy functionalized particles dispersing well in the isotropic phase of the liquid crystal. At the transition to the nematic and especially the columnar phase, the colloidal particles were expelled into the remaining isotropic phase. Since the columnar phase grew in parallel ribbons, the colloidal particles ended up in chain-like assemblies. Such behavior opens the possibility of producing patterned assemblies of colloidal particles by taking advantage of the self-organized structure of chromonic liquid crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Zimmermann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Paderborn, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
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Lohr MA, Cavallaro M, Beller DA, Stebe KJ, Kamien RD, Collings PJ, Yodh AG. Elasticity-dependent self-assembly of micro-templated chromonic liquid crystal films. SOFT MATTER 2014; 10:3477-3484. [PMID: 24651876 DOI: 10.1039/c3sm53170h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We explore micropatterned director structures of aqueous lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal (LCLC) films created on square-lattice cylindrical-micropost substrates. The structures are manipulated by modulating the LCLC mesophases and their elastic properties via concentration through drying. Nematic LCLC films exhibit preferred bistable alignment along the diagonals of the micropost lattice. Columnar LCLC films, dried from nematics, form two distinct director and defect configurations: a diagonally aligned director pattern with local squares of defects, and an off-diagonal configuration with zig-zag defects. The formation of these states appears to be tied to the relative splay and bend free energy costs of the initial nematic films. The observed nematic and columnar configurations are understood numerically using a Landau-de Gennes free energy model. Among other attributes, the work provide first examples of quasi-2D micropatterning of LC films in the columnar phase and lyotropic LC films in general, and it demonstrates alignment and configuration switching of typically difficult-to-align LCLC films via bulk elastic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Lohr
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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Senthilnathan J, Liu YF, Rao KS, Yoshimura M. Submerged liquid plasma for the synchronized reduction and functionalization of graphene oxide. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4395. [PMID: 24637779 PMCID: PMC3957132 DOI: 10.1038/srep04395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of reduced and functionalized graphene oxide (r-FGO) at ambient temperature and pressure is demonstrated by generating liquid plasma submerged in acetonitrile and graphene oxide solution. The partial restoration of conjugation (sp(2) domain) and insertion of fluorophores such as nitrile and amine in r-FGO displays enhanced fluorescence property. Presence of nitrile and amine in r-FGO are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. Morphology and optical property of r-FGO are studied with transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy measurements. The nitrile and amine present in r-FGO undergo a surface-controlled reversible redox reaction and sp(2)- enriched r-FGO acts as an electrical double layer, providing additional hybrid capacitance or pseudocapacitance. r-FGO shows high cyclic stability with a specific capacitance value of 349 F/g at the scan rate of 10 mV/s. Only marginal reduction of specific capacitance (<10% reduction) is observed at the end of 1000 cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaganathan Senthilnathan
- Promotion Centre for Global Materials Research (PCGMR), Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Fang Liu
- Promotion Centre for Global Materials Research (PCGMR), Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kodepelly Sanjeeva Rao
- Promotion Centre for Global Materials Research (PCGMR), Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Masahiro Yoshimura
- Promotion Centre for Global Materials Research (PCGMR), Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Shivanandareddy AB, Krishnamurthy S, Lakshminarayanan V, Kumar S. Mutually ordered self-assembly of discotic liquid crystal–graphene nanocomposites. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:710-2. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc47685e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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24
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Li R, Parvez K, Hinkel F, Feng X, Müllen K. Bioinspired Wafer-Scale Production of Highly Stretchable Carbon Films for Transparent Conductive Electrodes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201300312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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25
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Li R, Parvez K, Hinkel F, Feng X, Müllen K. Bioinspired Wafer-Scale Production of Highly Stretchable Carbon Films for Transparent Conductive Electrodes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2013; 52:5535-8. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201300312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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27
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He Y, Zheng J, Dong S. Ultrasonic-electrodeposition of hierarchical flower-like cobalt on petalage-like graphene hybrid microstructures for hydrazine sensing. Analyst 2012; 137:4841-8. [DOI: 10.1039/c2an35672d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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28
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Jache B, Neumann C, Becker J, Smarsly BM, Adelhelm P. Towards commercial products by nanocasting: characterization and lithium insertion properties of carbons with a macroporous, interconnected pore structure. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2jm30787a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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29
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Guo F, Kim F, Han TH, Shenoy VB, Huang J, Hurt RH. Hydration-responsive folding and unfolding in graphene oxide liquid crystal phases. ACS NANO 2011; 5:8019-25. [PMID: 21877716 PMCID: PMC3202056 DOI: 10.1021/nn2025644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Graphene oxide is promising as a plate-like giant molecular building block for the assembly of new carbon materials. Its water dispersibility, liquid crystallinity, and ease of reduction offer advantages over other carbon precursors if its fundamental assembly rules can be identified. This article shows that graphene oxide sheets of known lateral dimension form nematic liquid crystal phases with transition points in agreement with the Onsager hard-plate theory. The liquid crystal phases can be systematically ordered into defined supramolecular patterns using surface anchoring, complex fluid flow, and microconfinement. Graphene oxide is seen to exhibit homeotropic surface anchoring at interfaces driven by excluded volume entropy and by adsorption enthalpy associated with its partially hydrophobic basal planes. Surprisingly, some of the surface-ordered graphene oxide phases dry into graphene oxide solids that undergo a dramatic anisotropic swelling upon rehydration to recover their initial size and shape. This behavior is shown to be a unique hydration-responsive folding and unfolding transition. During drying, surface tension forces acting parallel to the layer planes cause a buckling instability that stores elastic energy in accordion-folded structures in the dry solid. Subsequent water infiltration reduces interlayer frictional forces and triggers release of the stored elastic energy in the form of dramatic unidirectional expansion. We explain the folding/unfolding phenomena by quantitative nanomechanics and introduce the potential of liquid crystal-derived graphene oxide phases as new stimuli-response materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Guo
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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