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Ding L, Xu T, Zhang J, Ji J, Song Z, Zhang Y, Xu Y, Liu T, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Gong W, Wang Y, Shi Z, Ma R, Geng J, Ngo HT, Geng F, Liu Z. Covalently bridging graphene edges for improving mechanical and electrical properties of fibers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4880. [PMID: 38849347 PMCID: PMC11161649 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49270-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Assembling graphene sheets into macroscopic fibers with graphitic layers uniaxially aligned along the fiber axis is of both fundamental and technological importance. However, the optimal performance of graphene-based fibers has been far lower than what is expected based on the properties of individual graphene. Here we show that both mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of graphene-based fibers can be significantly improved if bridges are created between graphene edges through covalent conjugating aromatic amide bonds. The improved electrical conductivity is likely due to extended electron conjugation over the aromatic amide bridged graphene sheets. The larger sheets also result in improved π-π stacking, which, along with the robust aromatic amide linkage, provides high mechanical strength. In our experiments, graphene edges were bridged using the established wet-spinning technique in the presence of an aromatic amine linker, which selectively reacts to carboxyl groups at the graphene edge sites. This technique is already industrial and can be easily upscaled. Our methodology thus paves the way to the fabrication of high-performance macroscopic graphene fibers under optimal techno-economic and ecological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ding
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Tianqi Xu
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Jinpeng Ji
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Zhaotao Song
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Yijun Xu
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Wenbin Gong
- School of Physics and Energy, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yunong Wang
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Zhenzhong Shi
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Renzhi Ma
- National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Jianxin Geng
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes; School of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Huynh Thien Ngo
- National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Fengxia Geng
- College of Energy; School of Physical Science and Technology & Institute for Advanced Study, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
- Beijing Graphene Institute, 100095, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhongfan Liu
- Beijing Graphene Institute, 100095, Beijing, China
- Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
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Rubino L, Torrisi G, Brambilla L, Rubino L, Ortenzi MA, Galimberti M, Barbera V. Polyhydroxylated Nanosized Graphite as Multifunctional Building Block for Polyurethanes. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14061159. [PMID: 35335490 PMCID: PMC8953097 DOI: 10.3390/polym14061159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyurethane nanocomposites were prepared with a nanosized high surface area graphite (HSAG) functionalized on its edges with hydroxyl groups as a building block. Edge functionalization of HSAG was obtained through reaction with KOH. The addition of OH groups was demonstrated by means of infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the Boehm titration allowed estimation of a level of about 5.0 mmolOH/gHSAG. Results from wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and Raman spectroscopy suggested that functionalization of the graphene layers occurred on the edges. The evaluation of the Hansen solubility parameters of G-OH revealed a substantial increase of δP and δH parameters with respect to HSAG. In line with these findings, homogeneous and stable dispersions of G-OH in a polyol were obtained. PU were prepared by mixing a dispersion of G-OH in cis-1,4-butenediol with hexamethylene diisocyanate. A model reaction between catechol, 1,4-butanediol, and hexamethylene diisocyanate demonstrated the reactivity of hydroxylated aromatic rings with isocyanate groups. PU-based G-OH, characterized with WAXD and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealed lower Tg, higher Tc, Tm, and crystallinity than PU without G-OH. These results could be due to the higher flexibility of the polymer chains, likely a consequence of the dilution of the urethane bonds by the carbon substrate. Hence, G-OH allowed the preparation of PU with a larger temperature range between Tg and Tm, with potential positive impact on material applications. The model reaction between butylisocyanate and 1-butanol revealed that HSAG and G-OH promote efficient formation of the urethane bond, even in the absence of a catalyst. The effect of high surface area carbon on the nucleophilic oxygen attack to the isocyanate group can be hypothesized. The results here reported lead us to comment that a reactive nanosized sp2 carbon allotrope, such as G-OH, can be used as a multifunctional building block of PU. Indeed, G-OH is a comonomer of PU, a promoter of the polymerization reaction, and can definitely act as reinforcing filler by tuning its amount in the final nanocomposite leading to highly versatile materials. The larger temperature range between Tg and Tm, together with the presence of G-OH acting as a reinforcing agent, could allow the production of piezoresistive sensing, shape-memory PU with good mechanical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Rubino
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Giulio Torrisi
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Luigi Brambilla
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Luca Rubino
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Marco Aldo Ortenzi
- Laboratory of Materials and Polymers (LaMPo), Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Galimberti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (L.R.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (V.B.)
| | - Vincenzina Barbera
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (L.R.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (V.B.)
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Bohari NA, Siddiquee S, Saallah S, Misson M, Arshad SE. Optimization and Analytical Behavior of Electrochemical Sensors Based on the Modification of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) Using PANI/MWCNTs/AuNPs for Mercury Detection. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E6502. [PMID: 33202533 PMCID: PMC7697812 DOI: 10.3390/s20226502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, indium tin oxide (ITO) was used as a transparent working electrode for the development of an electrochemical sensor for the detection of mercury (II) ions (Hg2+). The electrode was modified by direct electrodeposition of polyaniline (PANI), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) followed by optimization of the analyte and operating conditions, aiming to improve the selectivity, sensitivity and reliability of the electrode for mercury detection. Successful immobilization of the PANI and nanomaterials (MWCNTs and AuNPs) on the ITO electrode was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. The optimum conditions for mercury detection using the modified ITO electrode were pH 7.0 of Tris-HCl buffer (50 mM) in the presence of 1 mM methylene blue (MB) as a redox indicator, a scan rate of 0.10 V·s-1 and a 70 s interaction time. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode under the optimized conditions indicated a high reproducibility and high sensitivity of mercury detection. It is therefore suggested that the PANI/MWCNT/AuNP-modified ITO electrode could be a promising material for the development of on-site mercury detection tools for applications in fields such as diagnostics, the environment, safety and security controls or other industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Aini Bohari
- Biotechnology Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (N.A.B.); (S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Shafiquzzaman Siddiquee
- Biotechnology Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (N.A.B.); (S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Suryani Saallah
- Biotechnology Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (N.A.B.); (S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Mailin Misson
- Biotechnology Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (N.A.B.); (S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Sazmal Effendi Arshad
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia;
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