Universal strategy using environment-friendly inorganic compounds for the preparation of porous carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production and environmental remediation

In this work, a facile strategy is proposed for the preparation of efficient porous CN for photocatalytic hydrogen production and environmental remediation.

Stable Olympicenyl Radicals and Their π-Dimers

An olympicenyl radical, a spin 1/2 hydrocarbon radical with C_2v symmetry and uneven spin distribution, remains elusive despite the considerable theoretical research interest. Herein, we report syntheses of two air-stable olympicenyl radical derivatives, OR1 and OR2, with half-life times (τ_1/2) in air-saturated solution of 7 days and 34 days. The high stability was ascribed to kinetic blocking of reactive sites with high spin densities. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed unique 20-center-2-electron head-to-tail π-dimer structures with intermolecular distances shorter than the sum of van der Waals radius of carbon. The ground state of the π-dimers was found to be singlet, with singlet-triplet energy gaps estimated to be -2.34 kcal/mol and -3.28 kcal/mol for OR1 and OR2, respectively, by variable-temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The monomeric radical species were in equilibrium with the π-dimer in solution, and the optical and electrochemical properties of the monomers and π-dimers in solution were investigated by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, revealing a concentration-dependent nature. Theoretical calculations illustrated that upon formation of a π-dimer the local aromaticity of each monomer was enhanced, and spatial ring current between the monomers was present, which resulted in an increment of aromaticity of the interior of the π-dimer.

Role of the carbon defects in the catalytic oxygen reduction by graphite nanoparticles: a spectromagnetic, electrochemical and computational integrated approach

The chemical groups present at the surface of graphite have been thought for a long time to be mainly responsible for its catalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction. Recently, it was proposed that the surface defects of graphite also significantly contribute to promote this reaction. Although the behaviour of surface defects has been reported, only few comments have been dedicated to their involvement in the mechanism and the possible intermediate species in the oxygen reduction reaction. Herein, we aim to present a more detailed explanation of the catalytic activity of graphite particles based on the structure of their defects and their size. Structural, spectroscopic and magnetic investigation (X-ray diffraction, Raman and electron spin resonance) and electrochemical measurements were performed to describe the nature of the defects and their aptitude to transfer electrons. Computational description supplied precise details of the energy of the different defects and their ability to promote the reduction, also suggesting the structure of the intermediate adduct in the oxygen reduction. The results indicated that molecular oxygen preferentially interacts with graphite defects, which involve the π-electron system and accumulation of the spin density on the edges of the grains, in particular, on the zig-zag edges present on ball-milled graphite. This promotes the reactivity of this nanomaterial. Furthermore, the activation increases by decreasing the particle size.

Boronated holey graphene: a case of 2D ferromagnetic metal

In search of new candidates for two-dimensional ferromagnets, we consider boronated monolayer holey graphene (C₂B), akin to recently synthesized and extensively studied nitrogenated monolayer holey graphene (C₂N).

Review of Graphene Growth From a Solid Carbon Source by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)

Graphene is a remarkable two-dimensional (2D) material that is of great interest to both academia and industry. It has outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity and good mechanical behavior with promising applications in electronic devices, supercapacitors, batteries, composite materials, flexible transparent displays, solar cells, and sensors. Several methods have been used to produce either pristine graphene or doped graphene. These include chemical vapor deposition (CVD), mechanical exfoliation, decomposition of SiC, liquid-phase exfoliation, pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Among these methods, PLD, which is routinely used for growing complex oxide thin films has proved to be an alternative to the more widely reported CVD method for producing graphene thin films, because of its advantages. Here we review the synthesis of graphene using PLD. We describe recent progress in preparing pristine graphene and doped graphene by PLD, including deposition processes and characterization. The goal of this complete survey is to describe the advantages of using the technique for graphene growth. The review will also help researchers to better understand graphene synthesis using the PLD technique.

Building a 22-ring nanographene by combining in-solution and on-surface syntheses

A nanographene formed by the fusion of 22 benzene rings has been prepared by combining in-solution cycloaddition reactions and on-surface cyclodehydrogenations.

Surface Response of Brominated Carbon Media on Laser and Thermal Excitation: Optical and Thermal Analysis Study

The present study is objected to develop an analytical remote optical diagnostics of the functionalized carbons surface. Carbon composites with up to 1 mmol g^-1 of irreversibly adsorbed bromine were produced by the room temperature plasma treatment of an activated carbon fabric (ACF) derived from polyacrylonitrile textile. The brominated ACF (BrACF) was studied by elastic optical scattering indicatrix analysis at wavelength 532 nm. The obtained data were interpreted within results of the thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry. The bromination dramatically reduces the microporosity producing practically non-porous material, while the incorporated into the micropores bromine induces the dielectric and structural impact on surface polarizability and conductivity due to the charging effect. We have found that the elastic optical scattering in proper solid angles in the forward and the backward hemispheres is sensitive to the kind of the bromine bonding, e.g., physical adsorption or chemisorption, and the bromination level, respectively, that can be utilized for the express remote fabrication control of the nanoscale carbons with given interfaces.

Computational methods for 2D materials: discovery, property characterization, and application design

The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) materials comes at a time when computational methods are mature and can predict novel 2D materials, characterize their properties, and guide the design of 2D materials for applications. This article reviews the recent progress in computational approaches for 2D materials research. We discuss the computational techniques and provide an overview of the ongoing research in the field. We begin with an overview of known 2D materials, common computational methods, and available cyber infrastructures. We then move onto the discovery of novel 2D materials, discussing the stability criteria for 2D materials, computational methods for structure prediction, and interactions of monolayers with electrochemical and gaseous environments. Next, we describe the computational characterization of the 2D materials' electronic, optical, magnetic, and superconducting properties and the response of the properties under applied mechanical strain and electrical fields. From there, we move on to discuss the structure and properties of defects in 2D materials, and describe methods for 2D materials device simulations. We conclude by providing an outlook on the needs and challenges for future developments in the field of computational research for 2D materials.

Magnetic frustration of graphite oxide

Delocalized π electrons in aromatic ring structures generally induce diamagnetism. In graphite oxide, however, π electrons develop ferromagnetism due to the unique structure of the material. The π electrons are only mobile in the graphitic regions of graphite oxide, which are dispersed and surrounded by sp³-hybridized carbon atoms. The spin-glass behavior of graphite oxide is corroborated by the frequency dependence of its AC susceptibility. The magnetic susceptibility data exhibit a negative Curie temperature, field irreversibility, and slow relaxation. The overall results indicate that magnetic moments in graphite oxide slowly interact and develop magnetic frustration.

Probing dispersion and re-agglomeration phenomena upon melt-mixing of polymer-functionalized graphite nanoplates

A one-step melt-mixing method is proposed to study dispersion and re-agglomeration phenomena of the as-received and functionalized graphite nanoplates in polypropylene melts. Graphite nanoplates were chemically modified via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide and then grafted with polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride. The effect of surface functionalization on the dispersion kinetics, nanoparticle re-agglomeration and interface bonding with the polymer is investigated. Nanocomposites with 2 or 10 wt% of as-received and functionalized graphite nanoplates were prepared in a small-scale prototype mixer coupled to a capillary rheometer. Samples were collected along the flow axis and characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electrical conductivity measurements. The as-received graphite nanoplates tend to re-agglomerate upon stress relaxation of the polymer melt. The covalent attachment of a polymer to the nanoparticle surface enhances the stability of dispersion, delaying the re-agglomeration. Surface modification also improves interfacial interactions and the resulting composites presented improved electrical conductivity.

Nanographene and graphene edges: electronic structure and nanofabrication

Graphene can be referred to as an infinite polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of an infinite number of benzene rings fused together. However, at the nanoscale, nanographene's properties lie in between those of bulk graphene and large PAH molecules, and its electronic properties depend on the influence of the edges, which disrupt the infinite π-electron system. The resulting modulation of the electronic states depends on whether the nanographene edge is the armchair or zigzag type, corresponding to the two fundamental crystal axes. In this Account, we report the results of fabricating both types of edges in the nanographene system and characterizing their electronic properties using a scanning probe microscope. We first introduce the theoretical background to understand the two types of finite size effects on the electronic states of nanographene (i) the standing wave state and (ii) the edge state which correspond to the armchair and zigzag edges, respectively. Most importantly, characterizing the standing wave and edge states could play a crucial role in understanding the chemical reactivity, thermodynamic stability and magnetism of nanosized graphene--important knowledge in the design and realization of promising functionalized nanocarbon materials. In the second part, we present scanning probe microscopic characterization of both edge types to experimentally characterize the two electronic states. As predicted, we find the armchair-edged nanographene to have an energetically stable electronic pattern. The zigzag-edged nanographene shows a nonbonding (π radical) pattern, which is the source of the material's electronic and magnetic properties and its chemical activity. Precise control of the edge geometry is a practical requirement to control the electronic structure. We show that we can fabricate the energetically unstable zigzag edges using scanning probe manipulation techniques, and we discuss challenges in using these techniques for that purpose.

Nuclear magnetic biosignatures in the carbonaceous matter of ancient cherts: comparison with carbonaceous meteorites

The search for organic biosignatures is motivated by the hope of understanding the conditions of emergence of life on Earth and the perspective of finding traces of extinct life in martian sediments. Paramagnetic radicals, which exist naturally in amorphous carbonaceous matter fossilized in Precambrian cherts, were used as local structural probes and studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The nuclear magnetic resonance transitions of elements inside and around these radicals were detected by monitoring the nuclear modulations of electron spin echo in pulsed EPR. We found that the carbonaceous matter of fossilized microorganisms with age up to 3.5 billion years gives specific nuclear magnetic signatures of hydrogen (¹H), carbon (¹³C), and phosphorus (³¹P) nuclei. We observed that these potential biosignatures of extinct life are found neither in the carbonaceous matter of carbonaceous meteorites (4.56 billion years), the most ancient objects of the Solar System, nor in any carbonaceous matter resulting from carbonization of organic and bioorganic precursors. These results indicate that these nuclear signatures are sensitive to thermal episodes and can be used for Archean cherts with metamorphism not higher than the greenschist facies.

One-Step Production of Anisotropically Etched Graphene Using Supercritical Water

We developed a one-step method for production of anisotropically etched graphene using supercritical fluid (SCF). Anisotropic etching of a graphite substrate and dispersed graphite powder with Ag nanoparticles was conducted in supercritical water (SCW). Because of the exfoliation effect of SCF, graphene was isolated from the graphite simultaneously with the anisotropic etching. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy revealed the production of multilayer graphene exfoliated from the anisotropically etched graphite surface.

Half-metallicity of graphene nanoribbons and related systems: a new quantum mechanical El Dorado for nanotechnologies... or a hype for materials scientists?

In this work we discuss in some computational and analytical details the issue of half-metallicity in zig-zag graphene nanoribbons and nanoislands of finite width, i.e. the coexistence of metallic nature for electrons with one spin orientation and insulating nature for the electrons of opposite spin, which has been recently predicted from so-called first-principle calculations employing Density Functional Theory. It is mathematically demonstrated and computationally verified that, within the framework of non-relativistic and time-independent quantum mechanics, like the size-extensive spin-contamination to which it relates, half-metallicity is nothing else than a methodological artefact, due to a too approximate treatment of electron correlation in the electronic ground state.

Extraordinary physical properties of functionalized graphene

Graphene has attracted much attention in recent years due to its extraordinary electronic, optical, magnetic, thermal, and mechanical properties. Despite continuing theoretical and experimental success, the unique physical properties of graphene remain underused and underappreciated. The key challenge in harnessing of the unique properties of graphene is the difficulty of reliable manipulation of well-dispersed graphene. Chemical and physical functionalization of graphene has become a focus of especial interest, because they can not only stabilize, but also induce new properties of graphene. This review summarizes the intriguing physical properties of chemically oxidized and noncovalently modified graphene, and graphene-based nanocomposites with polymer matrices or nanoparticles. Along with introducing the physical properties of functionalized graphene, their potential applications in diverse research areas are discussed.

Assessing the Solvation Numbers of Electrolytic Ions Confined in Carbon Nanopores under Dynamic Charging Conditions

We propose herein a new reliable approach to assess solvation numbers of ions confined in carbon nanopores based on dynamic quartz crystal measurements. This was proved for the entire families of alkaline, alkaline-earth cations, and halogen anions. As-assessed hydration numbers appear in the sequence characteristic of a transition from the cosmotropic to a chaotropic-type behavior with the decrease of the ion's charge-to-size ratio. The information on the behavior of ions confined in nanometric space of different (especially charged) carbon materials is in high demand for the development of powerful supercapacitors, nanofiltration membranes, and chemical/biochemical sensors.

A study of the synthetic methods and properties of graphenes

Graphenes with varying number of layers can be synthesized by using different strategies. Thus, single-layer graphene is prepared by micromechanical cleavage, reduction of single-layer graphene oxide, chemical vapor deposition and other methods. Few-layer graphenes are synthesized by conversion of nanodiamond, arc discharge of graphite and other methods. In this article, we briefly overview the various synthetic methods and the surface, magnetic and electrical properties of the produced graphenes. Few-layer graphenes exhibit ferromagnetic features along with antiferromagnetic properties, independent of the method of preparation. Aside from the data on electrical conductivity of graphenes and graphene-polymer composites, we also present the field-effect transistor characteristics of graphenes. Only single-layer reduced graphene oxide exhibits ambipolar properties. The interaction of electron donor and acceptor molecules with few-layer graphene samples is examined in detail.

Graphene: the new two-dimensional nanomaterial

Every few years, a new material with unique properties emerges and fascinates the scientific community, typical recent examples being high-temperature superconductors and carbon nanotubes. Graphene is the latest sensation with unusual properties, such as half-integer quantum Hall effect and ballistic electron transport. This two-dimensional material which is the parent of all graphitic carbon forms is strictly expected to comprise a single layer, but there is considerable interest in investigating two-layer and few-layer graphenes as well. Synthesis and characterization of graphenes pose challenges, but there has been considerable progress in the last year or so. Herein, we present the status of graphene research which includes aspects related to synthesis, characterization, structure, and properties.

Chemical functionalization of graphene

Experimental and theoretical results on chemical functionalization of graphene are reviewed. Using hydrogenated graphene as a model system, general principles of the chemical functionalization are formulated and discussed. It is shown that, as a rule, 100% coverage of graphene by complex functional groups (in contrast with hydrogen and fluorine) is unreachable. A possible destruction of graphene nanoribbons by fluorine is considered. The functionalization of infinite graphene and graphene nanoribbons by oxygen and by hydrofluoric acid is simulated step by step.

Nanographene and nanodiamond; new members in the nanocarbon family

Nanographene and nanodiamond are new members of nanocarbons, which consist of nano-sized hexagonal and tetrahedral networks, respectively. The presence of edges and surfaces distinguishes nanographene and nanodiamond, respectively, from other nanocarbons owing to their structure dependent electronic features. Nanographene has an unconventional nonbonding pi-state (edge state) localized around its edge that is dependent on the edge geometry. The edge states, having localized spins, impart a nanographene-based molecular magnetic character. The structure and electronic/magnetic properties of nanodiamond vary depending on how the surface carbon atoms are terminated. Nanodiamond, with a naked surface, is subjected to structural reconstruction at the expense of sigma-dangling bonds. The hydrogenation of the surface is expected to give an electron reservoir function. The incompletely hydrogenated surface is magnetic with surface-induced spins.

Edge states and optical transition energies in carbon nanoribbons

The edge states and optical transition energies in carbon nanoribbons are investigated with density-functional calculations. While the ground state of zigzag ribbons is spin polarized, defects at the edges destroy spin polarization and lead to a nonmagnetic ground state. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy will thus show different features depending on edge quality. Optical transition energies in nanoribbons Eii are strongly affected by the edges and confinement, which introduce a term inversely proportional to their width. After removing that term, the scaling of Eii is quantitatively similar to that in carbon nanotubes.

Dirac equation description of the electronic states and magnetic properties of a square graphene quantum dot

Electronic eigenstates of a square graphene quantum dot (GQD) terminated by both zigzag and armchair edges are derived in the theoretical framework of the Dirac equation. We find that the Dirac equation can determine the eigenenergy spectrum of a GQD with high accuracy even if its size is reduced to a few nanometers. More importantly, from the Dirac equation description we can readily work out the number and energy gap of the conjugate surface states, which are intimately associated with the magnetic properties of the GQD. By using the Hartree-Fock mean field approach, we study the size dependence of the magnetic ordering formation in this square GQD. We find that there exists a critical size of the width between the two zigzag edges to indicate the onset of the stable magnetic ordering. On the other hand, when such a width increases further, the magnetic ground state energy of a charge neutral GQD tends to a saturated value. These results coincide with the previous results obtained from the first-principles calculation. Then, based on the Dirac equation solution about the surface state, we establish a simple two-state model which can quantitatively explain the size dependence of the magnetic ordering in the square GQD.

Low-density ferromagnetism in biased bilayer graphene

We compute the phase diagram of a biased graphene bilayer. The existence of a ferromagnetic phase is discussed with respect to both carrier density and temperature. We find that the ferromagnetic transition is first-order, lowering the value of U relatively to the usual Stoner criterion. We show that in the ferromagnetic phase the two planes have unequal magnetization and that the electronic density is holelike in one plane and electronlike in the other.

First principles study of magnetism in nanographenes

Magnetism in nanographenes [also known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] is studied with first principles density functional calculations. We find that an antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase appears as the PAH reaches a certain size. This AFM phase in PAHs has the same origin as the one in infinitely long zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons, namely, from the localized electronic state at the zigzag edge. The smallest PAH still having an AFM ground state is identified. With increased length of the zigzag edge, PAHs approach an infinitely long ribbon in terms of (1) the energetic ordering and difference among the AFM, ferromagnetic, and nonmagnetic phases and (2) the average local magnetic moment at the zigzag edges. These PAHs serve as ideal targets for chemical synthesis of nanographenes that possess magnetic properties. Moreover, our calculations support the interpretation that experimentally observed magnetism in activated carbon fibers originates from the zigzag edges of the nanographenes.

Unique chemical reactivity of a graphene nanoribbon's zigzag edge

The zigzag edge of a graphene nanoribbon possesses a unique electronic state that is near the Fermi level and localized at the edge carbon atoms. The authors investigate the chemical reactivity of these zigzag edge sites by examining their reaction energetics with common radicals from first principles. A "partial radical" concept for the edge carbon atoms is introduced to characterize their chemical reactivity, and the validity of this concept is verified by comparing the dissociation energies of edge-radical bonds with similar bonds in molecules. In addition, the uniqueness of the zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbon is further demonstrated by comparing it with other forms of sp2 carbons, including a graphene sheet, nanotubes, and an armchair-edged graphene nanoribbon.