Bubble-wrap carbon: an integration of graphene and fullerenes

A Novel Quasi-Planar Two-dimensional Carbon Sulfide with Negative Poisson's Ratio and Dirac Fermions

In the present study, a novel and unconventional two-dimensional (2D) material with Dirac electronic features has been designed using sulflower with the help of density functional theory methods and first principles calculations. This 2D material comprises of hetero atoms (C, S) and belongs to the tetragonal lattice with P4 /nmm space group. Scrutiny of the results show that the 2D nanosheet exhibits a nanoporous wave-like geometrical structure. Quantum molecular dynamics simulations and phonon mode analysis emphasize the dynamical and thermal stability. The novel 2D nanosheet is an auxetic material with an anisotropy in the in-plane mechanical properties. Both composition and geometrical features are completely different from the conditions necessary for the formation of Dirac cones in graphene. However, the presence of semi-metallic nature, linear band dispersion relation, massive fermions and massless Dirac fermions are observed in the novel 2D nanosheet. The massless Dirac fermions exhibit highly isotropic Fermi velocities (vf =0.68×106  m/s) along all crystallographic directions. The zero-band gap semi metallic features of the novel 2D nanosheet are perturbative to the electric field and external strain.

Vacancy defects impede the transition from peapods to diamond: a neuroevolution machine learning study

Exploration of novel carbon allotropes has been a central subject in materials science, in which carbon peapods hold great potential as a precursor for the development of new carbon allotropes. To enable precise large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, we develop a high-accurate and low-cost machine-learned potential (MLP) for carbon materials using the neuroevolution potential framework. Based on the MLP, we conduct an investigation into the structural transitions of peapod arrays under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions and disclose the impact of vacancy defects. Defects promote the transition from the ordered crystalline structure to the disordered amorphous structure in peapods at low temperatures, while impeding the transition to the ordered diamond structure. Benefiting from the accurate MLP, we are able to reproduce the experimentally observed carbon structures in numerical simulations. We build a diagram summarizing all the structures that appear in the compression simulation of peapod arrays at various temperatures. The present work not only discloses the underlying mechanism of structural transitions from carbon peapods into various functional carbon materials, but also provides a high-accurate and low-cost interatomic potential that shall be valuable in the exploration of novel carbon allotropes.

Emerging properties of carbon based 2D material beyond graphene

Graphene turns out to be the pioneering material for setting up boulevard to a new zoo of recently proposed carbon based novel two dimensional (2D) analogues. It is evident that their electronic, optical and other related properties are utterly different from that of graphene because of the distinct intriguing morphology. For instance, the revolutionary emergence of Dirac cones in graphene is particularly hard to find in most of the other 2D materials. As a consequence the crystal symmetries indeed act as a major role for predicting electronic band structure. Since tight binding calculations have become an indispensable tool in electronic band structure calculation, we indicate the implication of such method in graphene's allotropes beyond hexagonal symmetry. It is to be noted that some of these graphene allotropes successfully overcome the inherent drawback of the zero band gap nature of graphene. As a result, these 2D nanomaterials exhibit great potential in a broad spectrum of applications, viz nanoelectronics, nanooptics, gas sensors, gas storages, catalysis, and other specific applications. The miniaturization of high performance graphene allotrope based gas sensors to microscopic or even nanosized range has also been critically discussed. In addition, various optical properties like the dielectric functions, optical conductivity, electron energy loss spectra reveal that these systems can be used in opto-electronic devices. Nonetheless, the honeycomb lattice of graphene is not superconducting. However, it is proposed that the tetragonal form of graphene can be intruded to form new hybrid 2D materials to achieve novel superconducting device at attainable conditions. These dynamic experimental prospects demand further functionalization of these systems to enhance the efficiency and the field of multifunctionality. This topical review aims to highlight the latest advances in carbon based 2D materials beyond graphene from the basic theoretical as well as future application perspectives.

Me-graphene: a graphene allotrope with near zero Poisson's ratio, sizeable band gap, and high carrier mobility

The exploration of new two-dimensional (2D) allotropes of carbon has attracted great research attention after graphene, but experiment-feasible graphene allotropes with novel properties are still rare. Here, we predict a new allotrope of graphene, named Me-graphene, composed of both sp2- and sp3-hybridized carbon by topological assembly of C-(C3H2)4 molecules. With a transitional ratio of sp2- and sp3-hybridized carbon atoms (12 : 1) between those of graphene (1 : 0) and penta-graphene (2 : 1), Me-graphene has transition properties between those of graphene and penta-graphene, such as energy, band gap, and Poisson's ratio. Unusually, Me-graphene exhibits a near zero Poisson's ratio of from -0.002 to 0.009 in the xy-plane (or called "anepirretic"), different from that of graphene (0.169) and penta-graphene (-0.068). More importantly, the near zero Poisson's ratio behavior remains in a large strain range, being less than ±0.02 for strain from -15% to +3%. Me-graphene possesses an indirect band gap of 2.04 eV, as a transition of graphene (semimetal) and penta-graphene (wide band gap), and turns into a direct-bandgap semiconductor with an enlarged band gap of 2.62 eV under compressive strain. It possesses high hole mobility of 1.60 × 105 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 300 K. Me-Graphene has potential applications in electronic, photoelectric and high-speed mechatronic devices. The transitional properties related to the ratio of sp2- and sp3-hybridized carbon atoms are inspiring for searching for new graphene allotropes with combinational properties.

Nano-makisu: highly anisotropic two-dimensional carbon allotropes made by weaving together nanotubes

Graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are the representatives of two-dimensional (2D) and one-dimensional (1D) forms of carbon, both exhibiting unique geometric structures and peculiar physical and chemical properties. Herein, we propose a family or series of 2D carbon-based highly anisotropic Dirac materials by weaving together an array of CNTs by direct C-C bonds or by graphene ribbons. By employing first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that these nano-makisus are thermally and dynamically stable and possess unique electronic properties. These 2D carbon allotropes are all metals and some nano-makisus show largely anisotropic Dirac cones, causing very different transport properties for the Dirac fermions along different directions. The Fermi velocities in the k_x direction could be ∼170 times higher than those in the k_y direction, which is the strongest anisotropy among 2D carbon allotropes to the best of our knowledge. This intriguing feature of the electronic structure has only been observed in heavy element materials with strong spin-orbit coupling. These results indicate that carbon based materials may have much broader applications in future nanoelectronics.

Recent Advances in Carbonaceous Photocatalysts with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performances: A Mini Review

Photocatalytic processes based on various semiconductors have been widely utilized in different applications, with great potential for use in environmental pollution remediation and sustainable energy generation. However, critical issues, including low light adsorption capability, wide energy bandgap, and unsatisfactory physicochemical stability still seriously limit the practical applications of photocatalysts. As a solution, the introduction of carbonaceous materials with different structures and properties into a photocatalyst system to further increase the activity has attracted much research attention. This mini review surveys the related literatures and highlights recent progress in the development of carbonaceous photocatalysts, which include various metal semiconductors with activated carbon, carbon dots, carbon nanotubes/nanofibers, graphene, fullerene, and carbon sponges/aerogels. Moreover, graphitic carbon nitride is also discussed as a carbon-rich and metal-free photocatalyst. The recently developed synthesis strategies and proposed mechanisms underlying the photocatalytic activity enhancement for different applications are summarized and discussed. Finally, ongoing challenges and the developmental direction for carbonaceous photocatalysts are proposed.