Core formation on Mars and differentiated asteroids

A compositionally heterogeneous martian mantle due to late accretion

The approximately chondritic estimated relative abundances of highly siderophile elements (HSE) in the bulk martian mantle suggest that these elements were added after Mars' core formed. The shergottite-nakhlite-chassigny (SNC) meteorites imply an average mantle Pt abundance of ≈3 to 5 parts per billion, which requires the addition of 1.6 × 10²¹ kilograms of chondritic material, or 0.25% martian masses, to the silicate Mars. Here, we present smoothed particle hydro-dynamics impact simulations that show that Mars' HSE abundances imply one to three late collisions by large differentiated projectiles. We show that these collisions would produce a compositionally heterogeneous martian mantle. Based mainly on W isotopes, it has been argued that Mars grew rapidly in only about 2 to 4 million years (Ma). However, we find that impact generation of mantle domains with variably fractionated Hf/W and diverse ¹⁸²W could imply a Mars formation time scale up to 15 Ma.

Adsorption and diffusion characteristics of lithium on hydrogenated α- and β-silicene

Using first-principles density functional theory calculations, we investigate adsorption properties and the diffusion mechanism of a Li atom on hydrogenated single-layer α- and β-silicene on a Ag(111) surface. It is found that a Li atom binds strongly on the surfaces of both α- and β-silicene, and it forms an ionic bond through the transfer of charge from the adsorbed atom to the surface. The binding energies of a Li atom on these surfaces are very similar. However, the diffusion barrier of a Li atom on H-α-Si is much higher than that on H-β-Si. The energy surface calculations show that a Li atom does not prefer to bind in the vicinity of the hydrogenated upper-Si atoms. Strong interaction between Li atoms and hydrogenated silicene phases and low diffusion barriers show that α- and β-silicene are promising platforms for Li-storage applications.

Tungsten Isotopes in Planets

The short-lived Hf-W isotope system has a wide range of important applications in cosmochemistry and geochemistry. The siderophile behavior of W, combined with the lithophile nature of Hf, makes the system uniquely useful as a chronometer of planetary accretion and differentiation. Tungsten isotopic data for meteorites show that the parent bodies of some differentiated meteorites accreted within 1 million years after Solar System formation. Melting and differentiation on these bodies took ~1-3 million years and was fueled by decay of 26Al. The timescale for accretion and core formation increases with planetary mass and is ~10 million years for Mars and >34 million years for Earth. The nearly identical 182W compositions for the mantles of the Moon and Earth are difficult to explain in current models for the formation of the Moon. Terrestrial samples with ages spanning ~4 billion years reveal small 182W variations within the silicate Earth, demonstrating that traces of Earth's earliest formative period have been preserved throughout Earth's history.

Graphene and Other 2D Colloids: Liquid Crystals and Macroscopic Fibers

Two-dimensional colloidal nanomaterials are running into renaissance after the enlightening researches of graphene. Macroscopic one-dimensional fiber is an optimal ordered structural form to express the in-plane merits of 2D nanomaterials, and the formation of liquid crystals (LCs) allows the creation of continuous fibers. In the correlated system from LCs to fibers, understanding their macroscopic organizing behavior and transforming them into new solid fibers is greatly significant for applications. Herein, we retrospect the history of 2D colloids and discuss about the concept of 2D nanomaterial fibers in the context of LCs, elaborating the motivation, principle and possible strategies of fabrication. Then we highlight the creation, development and typical applications of graphene fibers. Additionally, the latest advances of other 2D nanomaterial fibers are also summarized. Finally, conclusions, challenges and perspectives are provided to show great expectations of better and more fibrous materials of 2D nanomaterials. This review gives a comprehensive retrospect of the past century-long effort about the whole development of 2D colloids, and plots a clear roadmap - "lamellar solid - LCs - macroscopic fibers - flexible devices", which will certainly open a new era of structural-multifunctional application for the conventional 2D colloids.

Carbon nanotubides: an alternative for dispersion, functionalization and composites fabrication

In this review, we systematically describe the state-of-knowledge in the area of carbon nanotubides (CNTDs). CNTDs can be used for achieving highly concentrated dispersions of SWCNTs and can also be used as an important intermediate for covalent chemical modification. In recent years, researchers have used SWCNTDs as starting materials for the functionalization of SWCNTs with functionalities such as alkyl chains, carboxylic acids, sulfide, amino, hydroxyl, silyl, bromide, ethers, ketones and polymers. Also, we discussed the observed selectivity on the covalent functionalization towards certain classes of CNTs. Finally, we describe the use of SWCNTDs in the manufacture of fibers, films and other functional materials.

Fabrication of flexible, transparent and conductive films from single-walled carbon nanotubes with high aspect ratio using poly((furfuryl methacrylate)-co-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) as a new polymeric dispersant

We synthesized poly((furfuryl methacrylate)-co-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) (p(FMA-co-DMAEMA)) for the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) while maintaining their high aspect ratios. The nanotubes' length and height were 2.0 μm and 2 nm, as determined by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Transparent conductive films (TCFs) were fabricated by individually dispersed long SWCNTs onto a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate. The sheet resistance (Rs) was 210 Ω □(-1) with 81% transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm. To reduce their Rs, the TCFs were treated with HNO3 and SOCl2. After treatment, the TCFs had an Rs of 85.75 Ω □(-1) at a transmittance of 85%. The TCFs exhibited no appreciable change over 200 repeated bending cycles. Dispersing SWCNTs with this newly synthesized polymer is an effective way to fabricate a transparent, highly conductive and flexible film.

Carbonaceous Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Photoelectrodes

High photovoltaic efficiency is one of the most important keys to the commercialization of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in the quickly growing renewable electricity generation market. The heart of the DSSC system is a wide bandgap semiconductor based photoelectrode film that helps to adsorb dye molecules and transport the injected electrons away into the electrical circuit. However, charge recombination, poor light harvesting efficiency and slow electron transport of the nanocrystalline oxide photoelectrode film are major issues in the DSSC's performance. Recently, semiconducting composites based on carbonaceous materials (carbon nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene) have been shown to be promising materials for the photoelectrode of DSSCs due to their fascinating properties and low cost. After a brief introduction to development of nanocrystalline oxide based films, this Review outlines advancements that have been achieved in the application of carbonaceous-based materials in the photoelectrode of DSSCs and how these advancements have improved performance. In addition, several of the unsolved issues in this research area are discussed and some important future directions are also highlighted.

Large work function difference driven electron transfer from electrides to single-walled carbon nanotubes

A difference in work function plays a key role in charge transfer between two materials. Inorganic electrides provide a unique opportunity for electron transfer since interstitial anionic electrons result in a very low work function of 2.4-2.6 eV. Here we investigated charge transfer between two different types of electrides, [Ca(2)N](+)·e(-) and [Ca(24)Al(28)O(64)](4+)·4e(-), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a work function of 4.73-5.05 eV. [Ca(2)N](+) · e(-) with open 2-dimensional electron layers was more effective in donating electrons to SWNTs than closed cage structured [Ca(24)Al(28)O(64)](4+) · 4e(-) due to the higher electron concentration (1.3 × 10(22) cm(-3)) and mobility (∼ 200 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) at RT). A non-covalent conjugation enhanced near-infrared fluorescence of SWNTs as high as 52%. The field emission current density of electride-SWNT-silver paste dramatically increased by a factor of 46,000 (14.8 mA cm(-2)) at 2 V μm(-1) (3.5 wt% [Ca(2)N](+) · e(-)) with a turn-on voltage of 0.85 V μm(-1).

25th anniversary article: carbon nanotube- and graphene-based transparent conductive films for optoelectronic devices

Carbon nanotube (CNT)- and graphene (G)-based transparent conductive films (TCFs) are two promising alternatives for commonly-used indium tin oxide-based TCFs for future flexible optoelectronic devices. This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in the fabrication, properties, modification, patterning, and integration of CNT- and G-TCFs into optoelectronic devices. Their potential applications and challenges in optoelectronic devices, such as organic photovoltaic cells, organic light emitting diodes and touch panels, are discussed in detail. More importantly, their key characteristics and advantages for use in these devices are compared. Despite many challenges, CNT- and G-TCFs have demonstrated great potential in various optoelectronic devices and have already been used for some products like touch panels of smartphones. This illustrates the significant opportunities for the industrial use of CNTs and graphene, and hence pushes nanoscience and nanotechnology one step towards practical applications.

Controlling the doping level of double-walled carbon nanotubes by using aromatic hydrocarbon complexes

The level of potassium doping in double-walled carbon nanotubes has been tailored by the combination of potassium and aromatic hydrocarbons in a polar solvent.

Metal–semiconductor transition like behavior of naphthalene-doped single wall carbon nanotube bundles

Naphthalene (N) or naphthalene-derivative (ND) adsorption-treatment evidently varies the electrical conductivity of single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) bundles over a wide temperature range due to a charge–transfer interaction. The adsorption treatment of SWCNTs with dinitronaphthalene molecules enhances the electrical conductivity of the SWCNT bundles by 50 times. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of N- or ND-adsorbed SWCNT bundles having a superlattice structure suggests metal–semiconductor transition like behavior near 260 K. The ND-adsorbed SWCNT gives a maximum in the logarithm of electrical conductivity vs. T⁻¹ plot, which may occur after the change to a metallic state and be associated with a partial unravelling of the SWCNT bundle due to an evoked librational motion of the moieties of ND with elevation of the temperature.

Films of Carbon Nanomaterials for Transparent Conductors

The demand for transparent conductors is expected to grow rapidly as electronic devices, such as touch screens, displays, solid state lighting and photovoltaics become ubiquitous in our lives. Doped metal oxides, especially indium tin oxide, are the commonly used materials for transparent conductors. As there are some drawbacks to this class of materials, exploration of alternative materials has been conducted. There is an interest in films of carbon nanomaterials such as, carbon nanotubes and graphene as they exhibit outstanding properties. This article reviews the synthesis and assembly of these films and their post-treatment. These processes determine the film performance and understanding of this platform will be useful for future work to improve the film performance.

Graphene oxide as a multi-functional p-dopant of transparent single-walled carbon nanotube films for optoelectronic devices

Modulation of electronic structures and surface properties of transparent carbon nanotube films is a challenging issue for their application in optoelectronic devices. Here, we report, for the first time, that graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets play the role of a p-doping agent and surface energy modifier of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs). The deposition of highly oxidized, small-sized (i.e., diameter of less than 500 nm) GO nanosheets onto a SWCNT network film reduces the sheet resistance of the pristine film to 60% of its original value by p-doping. The modified TCEs exhibit an outstanding optoelectronic feature of high conductivity with high transparency. Moreover, the wettability of the electrode surface was also noticeably increased, which is advantageous for the solution-based processing of organic electronics. Furthermore, the organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells with the GO-doped SWCNT anodes on flexible substrates were successfully demonstrated. In stark contrast to a power conversion efficiency of 0.44% for pristine SWCNT anodes, GO-doped SWCNT anodes show a drastically enhanced power conversion efficiency of 2.7%.

Molecular simulation of flavin adenine dinucleotide immobilized on charged single-walled carbon nanotubes for biosensor applications

The reconstitution of apo-glucose oxidase (apo-GOx) on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalized with the cofactor, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), greatly improved electron transfer turnover rate of the redox reactions in glucose sensing with glucose sensors. The research reported here is aimed to better understand molecular details of affection of the charging SWNT to the conformational changes of FAD, in order to find a rational design and selection scheme of SWNT which is suitable for the FAD and apo-GOx to perform their reconstitution. In this report, molecular simulations of FAD functionalized differently charged SWNTs were carried outin an aqueous environment, with counterions to maintain total charge neutrality. The conformation and orientation changes were observed by both trajectory and quantitative analyses. The simulation results showed that in both uncharged and positively charged SWNT situations, FAD adsorbed onto SWNT at the end of the simulations, which increased the steric resistance of molecules and hindered the reconstitution of apo-GOx and FAD to some degree. By contrast, FAD functionalized negatively charged SWNT maintained its original conformation largely. In addition, negatively charged SWNT may be the best choice for electron transfer mediator for the reconstitution of apo-GOx on relay-cofactor units associated with electrodes.

p-n hetero-junction diode arrays of p-type single walled carbon nanotubes and aligned n-type SnO₂ nanowires

p-n hetero-junction diode arrays were fabricated using specific direct techniques for the transfer of p-type single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and aligned n-type SnO₂ nanowires (NWs) onto a patterned substrate surface. Their electronic and optoelectronic properties were characterized. Perpendicular crossings of the p- and the n-channels with each other were confirmed by transfer characteristics with respect to the bottom gate. The resulting diode showed a good rectifying behavior with a rectification ratio of over 10² at ±5 V, where the equivalent circuit model of a serially connected diode and resistor was used for analysis of the electrical properties. Both the forward and the reverse currents were observed to increase with the application of a positive gate bias, indicating an n-type gate dependence. Under a forward bias, the dominant contribution of the SnO₂ NW channel to the total resistance of the equivalent model is attributed to the n-type gate dependence since the resistance of the n-channel increased with a negative gate bias, resulting in the decrease of the forward current. Under a reverse bias, positive gate increased the concentration of valence electrons in the SWCNTs, enhancing direct tunneling to the conduction band of the SnO₂ NWs. High sensitivity to UV irradiation under the reverse bias was also demonstrated with a photosensitivity over 10², suggesting potential applicability of the hetero-junction diodes in optoelectronic devices.

Anchoring platinum on graphene using metallic adatoms: a first principles investigation

First principles calculations based on spin-polarized density functional theory were used to identify metallic adatoms that would strengthen the Pt(111)/graphene interface (with a low work of separation of 0.009 J m(-2)), when the adatom was placed between the Pt(111) and the graphene. It was shown that the strength of the Pt-adatom bond, which had a metallic character, increased with the amount of charge transferred from the adatom to the Pt. The carbon-adatom bond, on the other hand, had a mixed ionic and covalent character and was weaker than the Pt-adatom bond for each of the 25 elements considered. Consequently, the total Pt(111)/graphene interface strength and, hence, the anchoring effect of the adatom were controlled by the carbon-adatom bond strength. Metals with unfilled d orbitals increased the Pt/graphene interface strength to above 0.5 J m(-2). The carbon-adatom bond strength was proportional to the ratio between the charge transferred from the adatom to the graphene (ΔZ(C)) and the charge transferred to the Pt surface (ΔZ(Pt)); i.e., the ΔZ(C)/ΔZ(Pt) ratio defined the ability of an adatom to anchor Pt to graphene. For Ir, Os, Ru, Rh and Re, ΔZ(C)/ΔZ(Pt) > 1.0, making these elements the most effective adatoms for anchoring Pt to graphene.

Thermoelectric properties of nanocomposite thin films prepared with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) and graphene

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), either single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), can improve the thermoelectric properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT : PSS), but it requires addition of 30-40 wt% CNTs. We report that the figure of merit (ZT) value of PEDOT : PSS thin film for thermoelectric property is increased about 10 times by incorporating 2 wt% of graphene. PEDOT : PSS thin films containing 1, 2, 3 wt% graphene are prepared by solution spin coating method. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy analyses identified the strong π-π interactions which facilitated the dispersion between graphene and PEDOT : PSS. The uniformly distributed graphene increased the interfacial area by 2-10 times as compared with CNT based on the same weight. The power factor and ZT value of PEDOT : PSS thin film containing 2 wt% graphene was 11.09 μW mK(-2) and 2.1 × 10(-2), respectively. This enhancement arises from the facilitated carrier transfer between PEDOT : PSS and graphene as well as the high electron mobility of graphene (200,000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)). Furthermore the porous structure of the thin film decreases the thermal conductivity resulting in a high ZT value, which is higher by 20% than that for a PEDOT : PSS thin film containing 35 wt% SWNTs.

In vitro detection of superoxide anions released from cancer cells based on potassium-doped carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid composite gels

A newly developed electrochemical biosensor for the determination of superoxide anions (O(2)˙(-)) released from cancer cells using potassium-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (KMWNTs)-1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF(6)) ionic liquid composite gels is demonstrated. The KMWNTs-[BMIM]PF(6) can electrocatalyze oxygen reduction to generate a strong current signal in neutral solution. Compared with KMWNTs without [BMIM]PF(6) or MWNTs-[BMIM]PF(6) composites, the KMWNTs-[BMIM]PF(6) can enhance the oxygen reduction peak current by 6.2-fold and 2.8-fold, which greatly increases the detection sensitivity of oxygen. Then, O(2)˙(-) biosensors are fabricated by mixing superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the KMWNTs-[BMIM]PF(6) gels via monitoring oxygen produced by an enzymic reaction between SOD/O(2)˙(-) without the help of electron mediators. The resulting biosensors show a linear range from 0.04 to 38 μM with a high sensitivity of 98.2 μA mM(-1), and a lower detection limit of 0.024 μM. The common interferents such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), and metabolites of neurotransmitters, do not interfere with the detection of O(2)˙(-). The proposed biosensor is tested to determine O(2)˙(-) in vitro and from liver cancer and leukemia cells and shows good application potential in biological electrochemistry.

Carbon nanotube wires and cables: near-term applications and future perspectives

Wires and cables are essential to modern society, and opportunities exist to develop new materials with reduced resistance, mass, and/or susceptibility to fatigue. This article describes how carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer opportunities for integration into wires and cables for both power and data transmission due to their unique physical and electronic properties. Macroscopic CNT wires and ribbons are presently shown as viable replacements for metallic conductors in lab-scale demonstrations of coaxial, USB, and Ethernet cables. In certain applications, such as the outer conductor of a coaxial cable, CNT materials may be positioned to displace metals to achieve substantial benefits (e.g. reduction in cable mass per unit length (mass/length) up to 50% in some cases). Bulk CNT materials possess several unique properties which may offer advantages over metallic conductors, such as flexure tolerance and environmental stability. Specifically, CNT wires were observed to withstand greater than 200,000 bending cycles without increasing resistivity. Additionally, CNT wires exhibit no increase in resistivity after 80 days in a corrosive environment (1 M HCl), and little change in resistivity with temperature (<1% from 170-330 K). This performance is superior to conventional metal wires and truly novel for a wiring material. However, for CNTs to serve as a full replacement for metals, the electrical conductivity of CNT materials must be improved. Recently, the conductivity of a CNT wire prepared through simultaneous densification and doping has exceeded 1.3 × 10(6) S/m. This level of conductivity brings CNTs closer to copper (5.8 × 10(7) S/m) and competitive with some metals (e.g. gold) on a mass-normalized basis. Developments in manipulation of CNT materials (e.g. type enrichment, doping, alignment, and densification) have shown progress towards this goal. In parallel with efforts to improve bulk conductivity, integration of CNT materials into cabling architectures will require development in electrical contacting. Several methods for contacting bulk CNT materials to metals are demonstrated, including mechanical crimping and ultrasonic bonding, along with a method for reducing contact resistance by tailoring the CNT-metal interface via electroless plating. Collectively, these results summarize recent progress in CNT wiring technologies and illustrate that nanoscale conductors may become a disruptive technology in cabling designs.

Continuous electrodeposition for lightweight, highly conducting and strong carbon nanotube-copper composite fibers

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber is a promising candidate for lightweight cables. The introduction of metal particles on a CNT fiber can effectively improve its electrical conductivity. However, the decrease in strength is observed in CNT-metal composite fibers. Here we demonstrate a continuous process, which combines fiber spinning, CNT anodization and metal deposition, to fabricate lightweight and high-strength CNT-Cu fibers with metal-like conductivities. The composite fiber with anodized CNTs exhibits a conductivity of 4.08 × 10(4)-1.84 × 10(5) S cm(-1) and a mass density of 1.87-3.08 g cm(-3), as the Cu thickness is changed from 1 to 3 μm. It can be 600-811 MPa in strength, as strong as the un-anodized pure CNT fiber (656 MPa). We also find that during the tensile tests there are slips between the inner CNTs and the outer Cu layer, leading to the drops in electrical conductivity. Therefore, there is an effective fiber strength before which the Cu layer is robust. Due to the improved interfacial bonding between the Cu layer and the anodized CNT surfaces, such effective strength is still high, up to 490-570 MPa.

Emerging transparent electrodes based on thin films of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and metallic nanostructures

Transparent electrodes are a necessary component in many modern devices such as touch screens, LCDs, OLEDs, and solar cells, all of which are growing in demand. Traditionally, this role has been well served by doped metal oxides, the most common of which is indium tin oxide, or ITO. Recently, advances in nano-materials research have opened the door for other transparent conductive materials, each with unique properties. These include CNTs, graphene, metal nanowires, and printable metal grids. This review will explore the materials properties of transparent conductors, covering traditional metal oxides and conductive polymers initially, but with a focus on current developments in nano-material coatings. Electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of each material will be discussed, as well as suitability for various applications.

Structural, electronic, optical and vibrational properties of nanoscale carbons and nanowires: a colloquial review

This review addresses the field of nanoscience as viewed through the lens of the scientific career of Peter Eklund, thus with a special focus on nanocarbons and nanowires. Peter brought to his research an intense focus, imagination, tenacity, breadth and ingenuity rarely seen in modern science. His goal was to capture the essential physics of natural phenomena. This attitude also guides our writing: we focus on basic principles, without sacrificing accuracy, while hoping to convey an enthusiasm for the science commensurate with Peter's. The term 'colloquial review' is intended to capture this style of presentation. The diverse phenomena of condensed matter physics involve electrons, phonons and the structures within which excitations reside. The 'nano' regime presents particularly interesting and challenging science. Finite size effects play a key role, exemplified by the discrete electronic and phonon spectra of C(60) and other fullerenes. The beauty of such molecules (as well as nanotubes and graphene) is reflected by the theoretical principles that govern their behavior. As to the challenge, 'nano' requires special care in materials preparation and treatment, since the surface-to-volume ratio is so high; they also often present difficulties of acquiring an experimental signal, since the samples can be quite small. All of the atoms participate in the various phenomena, without any genuinely 'bulk' properties. Peter was a master of overcoming such challenges. The primary activity of Eklund's research was to measure and understand the vibrations of atoms in carbon materials. Raman spectroscopy was very dear to Peter. He published several papers on the theory of phonons (Eklund et al 1995a Carbon 33 959-72, Eklund et al 1995b Thin Solid Films 257 211-32, Eklund et al 1992 J. Phys. Chem. Solids 53 1391-413, Dresselhaus and Eklund 2000 Adv. Phys. 49 705-814) and many more papers on measuring phonons (Pimenta et al 1998b Phys. Rev. B 58 16016-9, Rao et al 1997a Nature 338 257-9, Rao et al 1997b Phys. Rev. B 55 4766-73, Rao et al 1997c Science 275 187-91, Rao et al 1998 Thin Solid Films 331 141-7). His careful sample treatment and detailed Raman analysis contributed greatly to the elucidation of photochemical polymerization of solid C(60) (Rao et al 1993b Science 259 955-7). He developed Raman spectroscopy as a standard tool for gauging the diameter of a single-walled carbon nanotube (Bandow et al 1998 Phys. Rev. Lett. 80 3779-82), distinguishing metallic versus semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes, (Pimenta et al 1998a J. Mater. Res. 13 2396-404) and measuring the number of graphene layers in a peeled flake of graphite (Gupta et al 2006 Nano Lett. 6 2667-73). For these and other ground breaking contributions to carbon science he received the Graffin Lecture award from the American Carbon Society in 2005, and the Japan Carbon Prize in 2008. As a material, graphite has come full circle. The 1970s renaissance in the science of graphite intercalation compounds paved the way for a later explosion in nanocarbon research by illuminating many beautiful fundamental phenomena, subsequently rediscovered in other forms of nanocarbon. In 1985, Smalley, Kroto, Curl, Heath and O'Brien discovered carbon cage molecules called fullerenes in the soot ablated from a rotating graphite target (Kroto et al 1985 Nature 318 162-3). At that time, Peter's research was focused mainly on the oxide-based high-temperature superconductors. He switched to fullerene research soon after the discovery that an electric arc can prepare fullerenes in bulk quantities (Haufler et al 1990 J. Phys. Chem. 94 8634-6). Later fullerene research spawned nanotubes, and nanotubes spawned a newly exploding research effort on single-layer graphene. Graphene has hence evolved from an oversimplified model of graphite (Wallace 1947 Phys. Rev. 71 622-34) to a new member of the nanocarbon family exhibiting extraordinary electronic properties. Eklund's career spans this 35-year odyssey.

Capture and manipulation of hybrid DNAs by carbon nanotube bundles

When approached from both sides, a piece of single-duplex-single DNA may be drawn into the inlets of two bundles of carbon nanotubes. This provides opportunities to manipulate the DNA by two bundles of nanotubes. The capture and manipulation processes envisaged above are simulated by molecular dynamics in this work. The radius of the carbon nanotube and the ambient temperature show the effects on the spontaneous insertion of DNA strands. This procedure, if successful, could be used for capturing expectant sdsDNAs, with subsequent manipulation to pull or to unzip the captured DNA.

A role of HNO3 on transparent conducting film with single-walled carbon nanotubes

There is some controversy regarding the effects of HNO3 on films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In this study we examined the change in sheet resistance of an HNO3-modified SWCNT film after different drying times at 85 degrees C using various analytical techniques. The shift and suppression in the Raman spectra, bleaching of the transition peaks related to van Hove singularities and a shift in the original peak in the C 1s XPS spectra provided evidence for p-type doping. A decrease in sheet resistance was also observed in the SWCNTs films due to the removal of residual N-methylpyrrolidone solvent on the surface and bundle of SWCNTs. These results suggest that p-type doping has a larger effect on the sheet resistance than the removal of residual N-methylpyrrolidone by an HNO3 treatment.

Surfactive stabilization of multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersions with dissolved humic substances

Soil humic substances (HS) stabilize carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersions, a mechanism we hypothesized arose from the surfactive nature of HS. Experiments dispersing multi-walled CNT in solutions of dissolved Aldrich humic acid (HA) or water-extractable Catlin soil HS demonstrated enhanced stability at 150 and 300 mg L(-1) added Aldrich HA and Catlin HS, respectively, corresponding with decreased CNT mean particle diameter (MPD) and polydispersivity (PD) of 250 nm and 0.3 for Aldrich HA and 450 nm and 0.35 for Catlin HS. Analogous trends in MPD and PD were observed with addition of the surfactants Brij 35, Triton X-405, and SDS, corresponding to surfactant sorption maximum. NEXAFS characterization showed that Aldrich HA contained highly surfactive domains while Catlin soil possessed a mostly carbohydrate-based structure. This work demonstrates that the chemical structure of humic materials in natural waters is directly linked to their surfactive ability to disperse CNT released into the environment.

The formation of atomic nanoclusters on graphene sheets

The formation of atomic nanoclusters on suspended graphene sheets has been investigated by employing a molecular dynamics simulation at finite temperature. Our systematic study is based on temperature-dependent molecular dynamics simulations of some transition and alkali atoms on suspended graphene sheets. We find that the transition atoms aggregate and make various size nanoclusters distributed randomly on graphene surfaces. We also report that most alkali atoms make one atomic layer on graphene sheets. Interestingly, the potassium atoms almost deposit regularly on the surface at low temperature. We expect from this behavior that the electrical conductivity of a suspended graphene doped by potassium atoms would be much higher than in the case doped by the other atoms at low temperature.