Unfolding the fullerene: nanotubes, graphene and poly-elemental varieties by simulations

Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth of Few-Layer β12-Borophane on Copper Foils toward Broadband Photodetection

Borophene has drawn tremendous attention in the past decade for a wide range of potential applications owing to its unique structural, optical, and electronic properties. However, applications of borophene toward next-generation nanodevices are mostly theoretical predictions, while experimental realization is still lacking due to rapid oxidation of intrinsic borophene in an air environment. Here, we have successfully prepared structurally stable and transferrable few-layer β₁₂-borophane on copper foils by a typical two-zone chemical vapor deposition method, where bis(triphenylphosphine)copper tetrahydroborate was used as the boron source in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere to stabilize its structure through hydrogenation. The crystal structure of the as-prepared β₁₂-borophane is in good agreement with previous reports. A fabricated photodetector based on β₁₂-borophane-silicon (n-type) Schottky junction shows good photoelectric responses to light excitations in a wide wavelength range from 365 to 850 nm. Especially, the photodetector exhibits a good photoresponsivity of around 0.48 A W^-1, a high specific detectivity of 4.39 × 10¹¹ jones, a high external quantum efficiency of 162%, and short response and recovery times of 115 and 121 ms under an ultraviolet light with the wavelength of 365 nm at a reverse bias of 5 V. The results show great potential applications of borophane in next-generation nanophotonic and nanoelectronic devices.

Structural Defects, Mechanical Behaviors, and Properties of Two-Dimensional Materials

Since the success of monolayer graphene exfoliation, two-dimensional (2D) materials have been extensively studied due to their unique structures and unprecedented properties. Among these fascinating studies, the most predominant focus has been on their atomic structures, defects, and mechanical behaviors and properties, which serve as the basis for the practical applications of 2D materials. In this review, we first highlight the atomic structures of various 2D materials and the structural and energy features of some common defects. We then summarize the recent advances made in experimental, computational, and theoretical studies on the mechanical properties and behaviors of 2D materials. We mainly emphasized the underlying deformation and fracture mechanisms and the influences of various defects on mechanical behaviors and properties, which boost the emergence and development of topological design and defect engineering. We also further introduce the piezoelectric and flexoelectric behaviors of specific 2D materials to address the coupling between mechanical and electronic properties in 2D materials and the interactions between 2D crystals and substrates or between different 2D monolayers in heterostructures. Finally, we provide a perspective and outlook for future studies on the mechanical behaviors and properties of 2D materials.

Borophene: Current Status, Challenges and Opportunities

Borophenes (2D boron sheets) have triggered a surge of interest both theoretically and experimentally because of its distinct structural, optical and electronic properties for extensive potential applications. Although theoretical efforts have guided the research directions of borophene, only few synthetic borophene sheets have been demonstrated experimentally. Borophene sheets have been successfully synthesized experimentally on metal substrates until 2015. Afterwards, more efforts were put on the controlled synthesis of crystalline and semiconducting borophene sheets as well as on the investigation of their novel and fascinating physical properties. This report provides a brief review on theoretical and experimental progress in borophene research. Some typical structures and properties of borophenes have been reviewed. The focus is laid on summarizing the experimental synthesis of borophene in recent years, and on showing some ultrastable and semiconducting borophenes which have been applied in electronic information devices. Finally, the future challenges and opportunities regarding experimental realization and practical applications of borophenes are presented.

Borophene with Large Holes

In two-dimensional (2D) borophene, the structural transition from triangular lattice to hexagonal lattice with an increase in vacancy concentration is a basic principle of constructing various borophene isomers. Here, by performing an extensive structural search of 4239 borophene isomers with both hexagonal holes (HHs) and large holes (LHs), we show that the structural transformation from triangular lattice to borophene with large holes is energetically more favorable. Borophene isomers with LHs are more stable than those with only HHs at high vacancy concentrations (>20%) and are just slightly less stable than those with only HHs at low vacancy concentrations. This discovery greatly expands the family of 2D borophene and opens a route for synthesizing new borophene isomers.

Flat Boron: A New Cousin of Graphene

The mechanical exfoliation of graphene from graphite provides the cornerstone for the synthesis of other 2D materials with layered bulk structures, such as hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, and so on. However, the experimental production of 2D flat boron is challenging because bulk boron has very complex spatial structures and a rich variety of chemical properties. Therefore, the realization of 2D flat boron marks a milestone for the synthesis of 2D materials without layered bulk structures. The historical efforts in this field, particularly the most recent experimental progress, such as the growth of 2D flat boron on a metal substrate by chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy, or liquid exfoliation from bulk boron, are described.

Near-equilibrium growth from borophene edges on silver

Two-dimensional boron, borophene, was realized in recent experiments but still lacks an adequate growth theory for guiding its controlled synthesis. Combining ab initio calculations and experimental characterization, we study edges and growth kinetics of borophene on Ag(111). In equilibrium, the borophene edges are distinctly reconstructed with exceptionally low energies, in contrast to those of other two-dimensional materials. Away from equilibrium, sequential docking of boron feeding species to the reconstructed edges tends to extend the given lattice out of numerous polymorphic structures. Furthermore, each edge can grow via multiple energy pathways of atomic row assembly due to variable boron-boron coordination. These pathways reveal different degrees of anisotropic growth kinetics, shaping borophene into diverse elongated hexagonal islands in agreement with experimental observations in terms of morphology as well as edge orientation and periodicity. These results further suggest that ultrathin borophene ribbons can be grown at low temperature and low boron chemical potential.

Nanomechanics of graphene

The super-high strength of single-layer graphene has attracted great interest. In practice, defects resulting from thermodynamics or introduced by fabrication, naturally or artificially, play a pivotal role in the mechanical behaviors of graphene. More importantly, high strength is just one aspect of the magnificent mechanical properties of graphene: its atomic-thin geometry not only leads to ultra-low bending rigidity, but also brings in many other unique properties of graphene in terms of mechanics in contrast to other carbon allotropes, including fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. The out-of-plane deformation is of a 'soft' nature, which gives rise to rich morphology and is crucial for morphology control. In this review article, we aim to summarize current theoretical advances in describing the mechanics of defects in graphene and the theory to capture the out-of-plane deformation. The structure-mechanical property relationship in graphene, in terms of its elasticity, strength, bending and wrinkling, with or without the influence of imperfections, is presented.

Carbon Nanotubes and Related Nanomaterials: Critical Advances and Challenges for Synthesis toward Mainstream Commercial Applications

Advances in the synthesis and scalable manufacturing of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) remain critical to realizing many important commercial applications. Here we review recent breakthroughs in the synthesis of SWCNTs and highlight key ongoing research areas and challenges. A few key applications that capitalize on the properties of SWCNTs are also reviewed with respect to the recent synthesis breakthroughs and ways in which synthesis science can enable advances in these applications. While the primary focus of this review is on the science framework of SWCNT growth, we draw connections to mechanisms underlying the synthesis of other 1D and 2D materials such as boron nitride nanotubes and graphene.

Borophene as a prototype for synthetic 2D materials development

The synthesis of 2D materials with no analogous bulk layered allotropes promises a substantial breadth of physical and chemical properties through the diverse structural options afforded by substrate-dependent epitaxy. However, despite the joint theoretical and experimental efforts to guide materials discovery, successful demonstrations of synthetic 2D materials have been rare. The recent synthesis of 2D boron polymorphs (that is, borophene) provides a notable example of such success. In this Perspective, we discuss recent progress and future opportunities for borophene research. Borophene combines unique mechanical properties with anisotropic metallicity, which complements the canon of conventional 2D materials. The multi-centre characteristics of boron-boron bonding lead to the formation of configurationally varied, vacancy-mediated structural motifs, providing unprecedented diversity in a mono-elemental 2D system with potential for electronic applications, chemical functionalization, materials synthesis and complex heterostructures. With its foundations in computationally guided synthesis, borophene can serve as a prototype for ongoing efforts to discover and exploit synthetic 2D materials.

Two-dimensional boron: structures, properties and applications

Situated between metals and non-metals in the periodic table, boron is one of the most chemically versatile elements, forming at least sixteen bulk polymorphs composed of interlinked boron polyhedra. In low-dimensionality, boron chemistry remains or becomes even more intriguing since boron clusters with several to tens of atoms favor planar or cage-like structures, which are similar to their carbon counterparts in terms of conformation and electronic structure. The similarity between boron and carbon has raised a question of whether there exists stable two-dimensional (2D) boron, as a conceptual precursor, from which other boron nanostructures may be built. Here, we review the current theoretical and experimental progress in realizing boron atomic layers. Starting by describing a decade-long effort towards understanding the size-dependent structures of boron clusters, we present how theory plays a role in extrapolating boron clusters into 2D form, from a freestanding state to that on substrates, as well as in exploring practical routes for their synthesis that recently culminated in experimental realization. While 2D boron has been revealed to have unusual mechanical, electronic and chemical properties, materializing its potential in practical applications remains largely impeded by lack of routes towards transfer from substrates and controlled synthesis of quality samples.

B40 cluster stability, reactivity, and its planar structural precursor

We report a comprehensive first-principles study of the structural and chemical properties of the recently discovered B₄₀ cage. It is found to be highly reactive and can exothermically dimerize, regardless of the orientation, by overcoming a small energy barrier ≃0.06 eV. The energy gap of the system varies widely with the aggregation of the increasing number of B₄₀ cages, from 3.14 eV in a single B₄₀, to 1.54 eV in the dimer, to 1.25 eV in the trimer. We also explore a recipe for protecting the B₄₀ cage by sheathing it within a carbon shell and identify carbon nanotubes with a radius of ∼6 Å as optimal hosts for an isolated cage. It is demonstrated that B₄₀ can be unfolded into a planar 'molecule' that tessellates the plane. The corresponding 2D boron sheet constitutes a structural precursor foldable into this unique boron cage structure of current interest.

Carbonization with Misfusion: Fundamental Limits of Carbon-Fiber Strength Revisited

D-loops, a new type of structural defect in carbon fibers, are presented, which have highly detrimental effect on their mechanical properties and can define a new fundamental upper limit to their strength. These defects form exclusively during polyacrylonitrile carbonization, act as stress concentrators in the graphitic basal plane, and cannot be removed by local annealing.

Mechanical properties of phosphorene nanotubes: a density functional tight-binding study

Using the density functional tight-binding method, we studied the elastic properties, deformation and failure of armchair (AC) and zigzag (ZZ) phosphorene nanotubes (PNTs) under uniaxial tensile strain. We found that the deformation and failure of PNTs are very much anisotropic. For ZZ PNTs, three deformation phases are recognized: the primary linear elastic phase-which is associated with interactions between neighboring puckers, succeeded by the bond rotation phase-where the puckered configuration of phosphorene is smoothed via bond rotation, and lastly the bond elongation phase-where the P-P bonds are directly stretched up to the maximally allowed limit and failure is initiated by the rupture of the most stretched bonds. For AC PNTs, the applied strain stretches the bonds up to the maximally allowed limit, causing their ultimate failure. For both AC and ZZ PNTs, their failure strain and failure stress are sensitive- while the Young's modulus, flexural rigidity, radial Poisson's ratio and thickness Poisson's ratio are relatively insensitive-to the tube diameter. More specifically, for AC PNTs, the failure strain decreases from 0.40 to 0.25 and the failure stress increases from 13 GPa to 21 GPa when the tube diameter increases from 13.3 Å to 32.8 Å; while for ZZ PNTs, the failure strain decreases from 0.66 to 0.55 and the failure stress increases from 4 GPa to 9 GPa when the tube diameter increases from 13.2 Å to 31.1 Å. The Young's modulus, flexural rigidity, radial and thickness Poisson ratios are 114.2 GPa, 0.019 eV · nm(2), 0.47 and 0.11 for AC PNTs, and 49.2 GPa, 0.071 eV · nm(2), 0.07 and 0.21 for ZZ PNTs, respectively. The present findings provide valuable references for the design and application of PNTs as device elements.

A Computational Study of the Interaction and Polarization Effects of Complexes Involving Molecular Graphene and C60 or a Nucleobases

A systematic analysis of the molecular structure, energetics, electronic (hyper)polarizabilities and their interaction-induced counterparts of C60 with a series of molecular graphene (MG) models, CmHn, where m = 24, 84, 114, 222, 366, 546 and n = 12, 24, 30, 42, 54, 66, was performed. All the reported data were computed by employing density functional theory and a series of basis sets. The main goal of the study is to investigate how alteration of the size of the MG model affects the strength of the interaction, charge rearrangement, and polarization and interaction-induced polarization of the complex, C60-MG. A Hirshfeld-based scheme has been employed in order to provide information on the intrinsic polarizability density representations of the reported complexes. It was found that the interaction energy increases approaching a limit of -26.98 kcal/mol for m = 366 and 546; the polarizability and second hyperpolarizability increase with increasing the size of MG. An opposite trend was observed for the dipole moment. Interestingly, the variation of the first hyperpolarizability is relatively small with m. Since polarizability is a key factor for the stability of molecular graphene with nucleobases (NB), a study of the magnitude of the interaction-induced polarizability of C84H24-NB complexes is also reported, aiming to reveal changes of its magnitude with the type of NB. The binding strength of C84H24-NB complexes is also computed and found to be in agreement with available theoretical and experimental data. The interaction involved in C60 B12N12H24-NB complexes has also been considered, featuring the effect of contamination on the binding strength between MG and NBs.

Synthesis of single layer graphene on Cu(111) by C60 supersonic molecular beam epitaxy

High kinetic energy impacts between inorganic surfaces and molecular beams seeded by organics represent a fundamental tool in materials science, particularly when they activate chemical–physical processes leading to nanocrystals' growth.

Synthesis of high quality two-dimensional materials via chemical vapor deposition

The synthesis of high quality two-dimensional materials such as graphene, BN, and transition metal dichalcogenides by CVD provides a new opportunity for large scale applications.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted much attention due to their unique properties and great potential in various applications. Controllable synthesis of 2D materials with high quality and high efficiency is essential for their large scale applications. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been one of the most important and reliable techniques for the synthesis of 2D materials. In this perspective, the recent advances in the CVD growth of three typical types of two-dimensional materials, graphene, boron nitride and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), are briefly introduced. Large area preparation, single crystal growth and some mechanistic insight are discussed with details. Finally we give a brief comment on the challenges of CVD growth of 2D materials.

The structure and elastic properties of phosphorene edges

We investigated the edge atomic structures and elastic properties of defect-free phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs). Density functional tight binding simulations were used to optimize two main edge configurations: armchair (AC) and zigzag (ZZ). It was found that the energy relaxation of PNRs leads to the noticeable changes in edge atomic configurations. The effective width of the edge region, which includes all the atoms involved in the edge relaxation, was found to contain approximately three atomic rows near the edge for both AC and ZZ PNRs. We further extracted the edge stress and modulus for the ZZ and AC edges. Both the AC and ZZ edge stresses of PNRs are positive, indicating tensile stress at the edges. In addition, both the AC and ZZ edge moduli are positive. However, the edge elastic modulus and edge stress of ZZ PNRs are about three times larger than those of AC PNRs. Furthermore, we showed that the tensile edge stresses along ZZ and AC edges are able to cause distortion in freestanding phosphorene nanoribbons. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for edge stresses in the design and fabrication of PNRs.

Discriminative modulation of the highest occupied molecular orbital energies of graphene and carbon nanotubes induced by charging

The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energies of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene are crucial in fundamental and applied research of carbon nanomaterials, and so their modulation is desired. Our first-principles calculations reveal that the HOMO energies of CNTs and graphene can both be raised by negatively charging, and that the rate of increase of the HOMO energy of a CNT is much greater and faster than that of graphene with the same number of C atoms. This discriminative modulation holds true regardless of the number of C atoms and the CNT type, and so is universal. This work provides a new opportunity to develop all-carbon devices with CNTs and graphene as different functional elements.

An open canvas--2D materials with defects, disorder, and functionality

CONSPECTUS: While some exceptional properties are unique to graphene only (its signature Dirac-cone gapless dispersion, carrier mobility, record strength), other features are common to other two-dimensional materials. The broader family "beyond graphene" offers greater choices to be explored and tailored for various applications. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and 2D layers of pure elements, like phosphorus or boron, can complement or even surpass graphene in many ways and uses, ranging from electronics and optoelectronics to catalysis and energy storage. Their availability greatly relies on chemical vapor deposition growth of large samples, which are highly polycrystalline and include interfaces such as edges, heterostructures, and grain boundaries, as well as dislocations and point defects. These imperfections do not always degrade the material properties, but they often bring new physics and even useful functionality. It turns particularly interesting in combination with the sheer openness of all 2D sheets, fully exposed to the environment, which, as we show herein, can change and tune the defect structures and consequently all their qualities, from electronic levels, conductivity, magnetism, and optics to structural mobility of dislocations and catalytic activities. In this Account, we review our progress in understanding of various defects. We begin by expressing the energy of an arbitrary graphene edge analytically, so that the environment is regarded by "chemical phase shift". This has profound implications for graphene and carbon nanotube growth. Generalization of this equation to heteroelemental BN gives a method to determine the energy for arbitrary edges of BN, depending on the partial chemical potentials. This facilitates the tuning of the morphology and electronic and magnetic properties of pure BN or hybrid BN|C systems. Applying a similar method to three-atomic-layer TMDCs reveals more diverse edge structures for thermodynamically stable flakes. Moreover, CVD samples show new types of edge reconstruction, providing insight into the nonequilibrium growth process. Combining dislocation theory with first-principles computations, we could predict the dislocation cores for BN and TMDC and reveal their variable chemical makeup. This lays the foundation for the unique sensitivity to ambient conditions. For example, partial occupation of the defect states for dislocations in TMDCs renders them intrinsically magnetic. The exchange coupling between electrons from neighboring dislocations in grain boundaries further makes them half-metallic, which may find its applications in spintronics. Finally, brief discussion of monoelemental 2D-layer phosphorus and especially the structures and growth routes of 2D boron shows how theoretical assessment can help the quest for new synthetic routes.

Extensive energy landscape sampling of nanotube end-caps reveals no chiral-angle bias for their nucleation

In the formation of a carbon nanotube (CNT) nucleus, a hemispherical fullerene end-cap, a specific pattern of six pentagons encodes what unique (n,m) chirality a nascent CNT would inherit, with many possible pentagon patterns corresponding to a single chirality. This configurational variety and its potential role in the initial stages of CNT catalytic growth remain essentially unexplored. Here we present large-scale calculations designed to evaluate the intrinsic energies of all possible CNT caps for selected chiralities corresponding to tube diameters d ≲ 1 nm. Our quantitative analysis reveals that for all chiral angles χ the energy scale variability associated with the CNT caps is small, compared to that of the CNT/catalyst interface. Such a flat energy landscape cannot therefore be a dominant factor for chiral distribution and lends further credibility to interface-controlled scenarios for selective growth of single-walled CNT of desired chirality.

Chirality-dependent vapor-phase epitaxial growth and termination of single-wall carbon nanotubes

Structurally uniform and chirality-pure single-wall carbon nanotubes are highly desired for both fundamental study and many of their technological applications, such as electronics, optoelectronics, and biomedical imaging. Considerable efforts have been invested in the synthesis of nanotubes with defined chiralities by tuning the growth recipes but the approach has only limited success. Recently, we have shown that chirality-pure short nanotubes can be used as seeds for vapor-phase epitaxial cloning growth, opening up a new route toward chirality-controlled carbon nanotube synthesis. Nevertheless, the yield of vapor-phase epitaxial growth is rather limited at the present stage, due in large part to the lack of mechanistic understanding of the process. Here we report chirality-dependent growth kinetics and termination mechanism for the vapor-phase epitaxial growth of seven single-chirality nanotubes of (9, 1), (6, 5), (8, 3), (7, 6), (10, 2), (6, 6), and (7, 7), covering near zigzag, medium chiral angle, and near armchair semiconductors, as well as armchair metallic nanotubes. Our results reveal that the growth rates of nanotubes increase with their chiral angles while the active lifetimes of the growth hold opposite trend. Consequently, the chirality distribution of a nanotube ensemble is jointly determined by both growth rates and lifetimes. These results correlate nanotube structures and properties with their growth behaviors and deepen our understanding of chirality-controlled growth of nanotubes.

Concise review: carbon nanotechnology: perspectives in stem cell research

Carbon nanotechnology has developed rapidly during the last decade, and carbon allotropes, especially graphene and carbon nanotubes, have already found a wide variety of applications in industry, high-tech fields, biomedicine, and basic science. Electroconductive nanomaterials have attracted great attention from tissue engineers in the design of remotely controlled cell-substrate interfaces. Carbon nanoconstructs are also under extensive investigation by clinical scientists as potential agents in anticancer therapies. Despite the recent progress in human pluripotent stem cell research, only a few attempts to use carbon nanotechnology in the stem cell field have been reported. However, acquired experience with and knowledge of carbon nanomaterials may be efficiently used in the development of future personalized medicine and in tissue engineering.