1
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Wang T, Gao Y, Chen B, Crespi VH, van Duin ACT. Prediction of a Novel Electromechanical Response in Polar Polymers with Rigid Backbones: Contrasting Furan-Derived Nanothreads to Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride). NANO LETTERS 2024. [PMID: 39016328 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Syn furan nanothreads have all oxygen atoms arranged on one side of the thread backbone; these polar threads present intriguing opportunities in electromechanical response owing to their rigid ladder-like backbone. We retrained a C/H/O reactive force field to simulate their response to external electric field for both end-anchored individual threads and bulk nanothread crystals, contrasting the results to those for poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer. Whereas the field induces a length-independent torque in PVDF through backbone rotation about σ bonds, furan-derived nanothreads generate a length-dependent torque by progressively twisting their rigid backbone. This mode of response couples the rotational history of the electric field to axial tension in the anchored thread. In simulations of densely packed syn furan nanothread crystals without anchors, the crystals pole in a field (∼3 GV/m at 300 K) similar to that seen in simulations of PVDF, suggesting that crystals of polar nanothreads can be ferroelectric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Yawei Gao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Bo Chen
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Vincent H Crespi
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Adri C T van Duin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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2
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Dunning SG, Tang WS, Chen B, Zhu L, Cody GD, Chariton S, Prakapenka VB, Strobel TA. Pressure-Induced Amidine Formation via Side-Chain Polymerization in a Charge-Transfer Cocrystal. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:2344-2351. [PMID: 38387075 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Compression of small molecules can induce solid-state reactions that are difficult or impossible under conventional, solution-phase conditions. Of particular interest is the topochemical-like reaction of arenes to produce polymeric nanomaterials. However, high reaction onset pressures and poor selectivity remain significant challenges. Herein, the incorporation of electron-withdrawing and -donating groups into π-stacked arenes is proposed as a strategy to reduce reaction barriers to cycloaddition and onset pressures. Nevertheless, competing side-chain reactions between functional groups represent alternative viable pathways. For the case of a diaminobenzene:tetracyanobenzene cocrystal, amidine formation between amine and cyano groups occurs prior to cycloaddition with an onset pressure near 9 GPa, as determined using vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and first-principles calculations. This work demonstrates that reduced-barrier cycloaddition reactions are theoretically possible via strategic functionalization; however, the incorporation of pendant groups may enable alternative reaction pathways. Controlled reactions between pendant groups represent an additional strategy for producing unique polymeric nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G Dunning
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
| | - Wan Si Tang
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
| | - Bo Chen
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Li Zhu
- Physics Department, Rutgers University-Newark, 101 Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - George D Cody
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
| | - Stella Chariton
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Vitali B Prakapenka
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Timothy A Strobel
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
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3
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Agati M, Romi S, Fanetti S, Bini R. High-pressure structure and reactivity of crystalline bibenzyl: Insights and prospects for the synthesis of functional double-core carbon nanothreads. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:244507. [PMID: 38156639 DOI: 10.1063/5.0174157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The high-pressure synthesis of double-core nanothreads derived from pseudo-stilbene crystals represents a captivating approach to isolate within the thread chromophores or functional groups without altering its mechanical properties. These entities can be effectively utilized to finely tune optical properties or as preferential sites for functionalization. Bibenzyl, being isostructural with other members of this class, represents the ideal system for building co-crystals from which we can synthesize double-core nanothreads wherein bridging chromophores, such as the azo or ethylene moieties, are embedded in the desired concentration within a fully saturated environment. To achieve this, a critical step is the preliminary characterization of the high-pressure behavior of crystalline bibenzyl. We report here an accurate investigation performed through state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction up to 40 GPa. Our findings reveal a strongly anisotropic compression of the crystal, which determines, at pressures between 1 and 2 GPa, consistent modifications of the vibrational spectrum, possibly related to a torsional distortion of the molecules. A phase transition is detected between 9 and 10 GPa, leading to a high pressure phase where, above 24 GPa, the nanothread formation is observed. However, the observed reaction was limited in extent and required significantly higher pressures in comparison to other members of the pseudo-stilbene family. This comprehensive study is imperative in laying the foundation for future endeavors, aiming to synthesize double-core nanothreads from pseudo-stilbene crystals, and provides crucial insights into the high-pressure behavior and phase transitions of crystalline bibenzyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milo Agati
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Romi
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Samuele Fanetti
- ICCOM-CNR, Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Roberto Bini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff," Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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4
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Zhang P, Gao D, Tang X, Yang X, Zheng H, Wang Y, Wang X, Xu J, Wang Z, Liu J, Wang X, Ju J, Tang M, Dong X, Li K, Mao HK. Ordered Van der Waals Hetero-nanoribbon from Pressure-Induced Topochemical Polymerization of Azobenzene. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:6845-6852. [PMID: 36926877 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Pressure-induced topochemical polymerization of molecular crystals with various stackings is a promising way to synthesize materials with different co-existing sub-structures. Here, by compressing the azobenzene crystal containing two kinds of intermolecular stacking, we synthesized an ordered van der Waals carbon nanoribbon (CNR) heterostructure in one step. Azobenzene polymerizes via a [4 + 2] hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction of phenylazo-phenyl in layer A and a para-polymerization reaction of phenyl in layer B at 18 GPa, as evidenced by in situ Raman and IR spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, as well as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance of the recovered products. The theoretical calculation shows that the obtained CNR heterostructure has a type II (staggered) band gap alignment. Our work highlights a high-pressure strategy to synthesize bulk CNR heterostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijie Zhang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Dexiang Gao
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingyu Tang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Yang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Zheng
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yida Wang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingqin Xu
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Zijia Wang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Liu
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoge Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Ju
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingxue Tang
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Dong
- Key Laboratory of Weak-Light Nonlinear Photonics, School of Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Kuo Li
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Ho-Kwang Mao
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
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5
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Sagadevan S, Rahman MZ, Léonard E, Losic D, Hessel V. Sensor to Electronics Applications of Graphene Oxide through AZO Grafting. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:846. [PMID: 36903724 PMCID: PMC10005793 DOI: 10.3390/nano13050846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Graphene is a two-dimensional (2D) material with a single atomic crystal structure of carbon that has the potential to create next-generation devices for photonic, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, sensing, wearable electronics, etc., owing to its excellent electron mobility, large surface-to-volume ratio, adjustable optics, and high mechanical strength. In contrast, owing to their light-induced conformations, fast response, photochemical stability, and surface-relief structures, azobenzene (AZO) polymers have been used as temperature sensors and photo-switchable molecules and are recognized as excellent candidates for a new generation of light-controllable molecular electronics. They can withstand trans-cis isomerization by conducting light irradiation or heating but have poor photon lifetime and energy density and are prone to agglomeration even at mild doping levels, reducing their optical sensitivity. Graphene derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), are an excellent platform that, combined with AZO-based polymers, could generate a new type of hybrid structure with interesting properties of ordered molecules. AZO derivatives may modify the energy density, optical responsiveness, and photon storage capacity, potentially preventing aggregation and strengthening the AZO complexes. They are potential candidates for sensors, photocatalysts, photodetectors, photocurrent switching, and other optical applications. This review aimed to provide an overview of the recent progress in graphene-related 2D materials (Gr2MS) and AZO polymer AZO-GO/RGO hybrid structures and their synthesis and applications. The review concludes with remarks based on the findings of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Sagadevan
- Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Md Zillur Rahman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka 1208, Bangladesh
| | - Estelle Léonard
- Research Center Royallieu, TIMR (Integrated Transformations of Renewable Matter), ESCOM, University de Technologie de Compiegne, CS 60 319, CEDEX, 60 203 Compiegne, France
| | - Dusan Losic
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- The ARC Graphene Research Hub, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Rd, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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6
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Agati M, Fanetti S, Bini R. Pressure induced modification of the electronic properties of stilbene by two-photon spectroscopy. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:034505. [PMID: 36681651 DOI: 10.1063/5.0133610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon nanothreads are the most exciting carbon based nanomaterials recently discovered. Obtained by compressing aromatics around 20 GPa, they are characterized by potentially exceptional mechanical properties. The reaction mechanisms have been partly elucidated through computational studies and x-ray diffraction experiments. However, in all these studies, the electronic modifications to which the molecule is subjected with increasing pressure are neglected as also if, and to which extent, the electronic excited states are involved in the high-pressure reactivity. In fact, the pressure increase induces remarkable changes in the electronic properties of molecular crystals, which are often directly related to the reaction's onset and path. We report the pressure evolution of the two-photon induced emission spectrum of crystalline stilbene, the archetype of a class of molecules from which double-core nanothreads are obtained, with the twofold purpose of gaining insight into the reaction mechanism and monitoring if the structural changes observed in x-ray diffraction studies have a detectable counterpart in the electronic properties of the system. The freezing of the spectral diffusion observed on rising pressure is ascribed to a hampered conformational rearrangement because of the larger stiffness of the local environment. The transition to the high pressure phase where the nanothreads form is revealed by the slope change of the pressure shift of all spectral components, while the progressive intensification with pressure of the 0-0 transition suggests a strengthening of the ethylenic bond favoring the charge delocalization on the benzene moieties, which is likely the trigger of the chemical instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Agati
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - S Fanetti
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - R Bini
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
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7
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Oburn SM, Huss S, Cox J, Gerthoffer MC, Wu S, Biswas A, Murphy M, Crespi VH, Badding JV, Lopez SA, Elacqua E. Photochemically Mediated Polymerization of Molecular Furan and Pyridine: Synthesis of Nanothreads at Reduced Pressures. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22026-22034. [PMID: 36417898 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanothreads are emerging one-dimensional sp3-hybridized materials with high predicted tensile strength and a tunable band gap. They can be synthesized by compressing aromatic or nonaromatic small molecules to pressures ranging from 15-30 GPa. Recently, new avenues are being sought that reduce the pressure required to afford nanothreads; the focus has been placed on the polymerization of molecules with reduced aromaticity, favorable stacking, and/or the use of higher reaction temperatures. Herein, we report the photochemically mediated polymerization of pyridine and furan aromatic precursors, which achieves nanothread formation at reduced pressures. In the case of pyridine, it was found that a combination of slow compression/decompression with broadband UV light exposure yielded a crystalline product featuring a six-fold diffraction pattern with similar interplanar spacings to previously synthesized pyridine-derived nanothreads at a reduced pressure. When furan is compressed to 8 GPa and exposed to broadband UV light, a crystalline solid is recovered that similarly demonstrates X-ray diffraction with an interplanar spacing akin to that of the high-pressure synthesized furan-derived nanothreads. Our method realizes a 1.9-fold reduction in the maximum pressure required to afford furan-derived nanothreads and a 1.4-fold reduction in pressure required for pyridine-derived nanothreads. Density functional theory and multiconfigurational wavefunction-based computations were used to understand the photochemical activation of furan and subsequent cascade thermal cycloadditions. The reduction of the onset pressure is caused by an initial [4+4] cycloaddition followed by increasingly facile thermal [4+2]-cycloadditions during polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalisa M Oburn
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Steven Huss
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Jordan Cox
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Margaret C Gerthoffer
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Sikai Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Arani Biswas
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Morgan Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Vincent H Crespi
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - John V Badding
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Steven A Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Elizabeth Elacqua
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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8
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Wang T, Xu ES, Chen B, Hoffmann R, Crespi VH. Theory of Borazine-Derived Nanothreads: Enumeration, Reaction Pathways, and Piezoelectricity. ACS NANO 2022; 16:15884-15893. [PMID: 36166474 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanothreads are one-dimensional macromolecules formed by pressure-induced polymerization along stacks of multiply unsaturated (or highly strained) molecules such as benzene (or cubane). Borazine is isoelectronic to benzene yet with substantial bond polarity, thus motivating a theoretical examination of borazine-derived nanothreads with degrees of saturation of 2, 4, and 6 (defined as the number of four-coordinated boron and nitrogen atoms per borazine formula unit). The energy increases upon going from molecular borazine to degree-2 borazine-derived threads and then decreases for degree-4 and degree-6 nanothreads as more σ bonds are formed. With the constraint of no more than two borazine formula units within the repeat unit of the framework's bonding topology, there are only 13 fully saturated (i.e., degree-6) borazine-derived nanothreads that avoid energetically costly homopolar bonds (as compared to more than 50 such candidates for benzene-derived threads). Only two of these are more stable than borazine. Hypothetical pathways from molecular borazine to these two degree-6 borazine-derived nanothreads are discussed. This relative paucity of outcomes may assist in kinetic control of reaction products. Beyond the high mechanical strength also predicted for carbon-based threads, properties such as piezoelectricity and flexoelectricity may be accessible to the polar lattice of borazine-derived nanothreads, with intriguing prospects for expression in these extremely thin yet rigid objects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - En-Shi Xu
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- School of Physics and Electronics, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, P.R. China
| | - Bo Chen
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Roald Hoffmann
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Baker Laboratory, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Vincent H Crespi
- Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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9
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Chen B, Crespi VH, Hoffmann R. Theoretical Studies of Furan and Thiophene Nanothreads: Structures, Cycloaddition Barriers, and Activation Volumes. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:9044-9056. [PMID: 35549167 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This theoretical study examines the formation, structure, and stability of two of the most ordered nanothreads produced yet, those derived from furan and thiophene. The energetic consequences and activation barriers of the first two steps of oligomerization via a Diels-Alder mechanism were examined. The ca. 20 GPa difference in the synthetic pressures (lower for furan) is explainable in terms of the greater loss of aromaticity by the thiophene. The effects of pressure on the reaction profiles, operating through a volume decrease along the reaction coordinate, are illustrated. The interesting option of polymerization proceeding in one or two directions opens up the possibility of polymers with opposing, cumulative dipole moments. The computed activation volumes are consistently more negative for furan, in accordance with the lower onset pressure of furan polymerization. The energetics of three ordered polymer structures were examined. The syn polymer, with all O/S atoms on the same side, if not allowed to distort, is at a high energy relative to the other two due to the O/S lone pair repulsion, understandably greater for S than for O at the 2.8/2.6 Å separation. Set free, the syn isomers curve or arch in two- or three-dimensional (helical) ways, whose energetics are traced in detail. The syn polymer can also stabilize itself by twisting into zig-zag or helical energy minima. The release of strain in a linear thread as the pressure is relaxed to 1 atm, with consequent thread curving, is a likely mechanism for the observed loss of the crystalline order in the polymer as it is returned to ambient pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 4, Donostia-San Sebastian 20018, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, Bilbao 48009, Spain
| | - Vincent H Crespi
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Roald Hoffmann
- Baker Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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10
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Abstract
The diamond nanothread is predicted to have comparable or larger strength and stiffness than the carbon nanotube but severely suffers from intrathread bonding disorder in practice. Here, we synthesized a bulk crystalline diamond nanothread material C3N3H3 with a C/N-ordered tube (3,0) structure via high-pressure topochemical polymerization of s-triazine. The π-stacked s-triazine experienced a selective concerted bonding of three neighbored C···N pairs, completely different from the classical Diels–Alder reactions of aromatics under high pressure. This study obtained the structure-specific diamond nanothread with an unambiguous elemental reaction, which is the basis to realize the expected excellent properties of diamond nanothreads. Following the identified reaction selectivity under high pressure, more structure-specific carbon materials can be designed. Carbon nanothread (CNTh) is a “one-dimensional diamond polymer” that combines high tensile strength and flexibility, but it severely suffers from intrathread disorder. Here, by modifying the reactivity and the stacking ordering of the aromatic precursor, crystalline C3N3H3 CNTh with perfect hexagonal orientation and stacking was synthesized at 10.2 GPa and 573 K from s-triazine. By Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data, gas chromatography mass spectrometry investigation, and theoretical calculation, we found that synthesized CNTh has a tube (3,0) structure, with the repeating s-triazine residue connected solely by C–N bonds along the thread. A “peri-cage” reaction, the concerted bonding between six C and N atoms, instead of [4 + 2] or [1,4] addition reactions, was concluded for the formation of CNThs, and the critical bonding distance between the nearest intermolecular C and N was ∼2.9 Å. The formation of a “structure-specific” crystalline CNTh with C and N orderly distributed highlighted the importance of reaction selectivity and stacking order of reactant molecules, which have great significance for understanding the polymerization of aromatic molecules under high pressure and developing new crystalline CNThs.
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11
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Romi S, Fanetti S, Alabarse F, Mio AM, Haines J, Bini R. Towards custom built double core carbon nanothreads using stilbene and pseudo-stilbene type systems. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:4614-4625. [PMID: 35266485 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr08188h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Until recently, saturated carbon nanothreads were the missing tile in the world of low-dimension carbon nanomaterials. These one-dimensional fully saturated polymers possess superior mechanical properties by combining high tensile strength with flexibility and resilience. They can be obtained by compressing aromatic and heteroaromatic crystals above 15 GPa exploiting the anisotropic stress that can be achieved by the diamond anvil cell technique. Recently, double-core nanothreads were synthesized by compressing azobenzene crystals, achieving the remarkable result of preserving the azo group as a linker of the resulting double thread. Herein, we demonstrate the generality of these findings through the synthesis of double carbon nanothreads from trans stilbene and azobenzene-stilbene mixed crystals. Employment of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction enabled a comprehensive characterization of the reactivity identifying threshold conditions, kinetics and structure-reaction relationship. In particular, the reaction is anticipated by a phase transition characterized by a sudden increase of the monoclinic angle and a collapse along the b axis direction. Large bidimensional crystalline areas extending several tens of nanometers are evidenced by transmission electron microscopy also confirming the monoclinic unit cell derived from X-ray diffraction data in which threads possessing the polymer 1 structure, as suggested by density functional theory calculations, are packed. The most exciting result of this study is the demonstration of viable synthesis of double nanothreads where the number and the nature of chromophoric groups linking the threads can be tuned by preparing starting crystals of desired composition, thanks to the isomorphism typical of the pseudo-stilbene molecules. This is extremely important in tailoring nanothreads with tunable optical properties and an adjustable band gap, also exploiting the possibility of introducing substituents in the phenyl groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Romi
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Samuele Fanetti
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
- ICCOM-CNR, Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Frederico Alabarse
- ELETTRA, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, in AREA Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Antonio M Mio
- IMM-CNR, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, VIII Strada 5 - Zona Industriale, 95121 Catania, Italy
| | - Julien Haines
- Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Roberto Bini
- LENS, European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
- ICCOM-CNR, Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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12
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Dunning SG, Zhu L, Chen B, Chariton S, Prakapenka VB, Somayazulu M, Strobel TA. Solid-State Pathway Control via Reaction-Directing Heteroatoms: Ordered Pyridazine Nanothreads through Selective Cycloaddition. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:2073-2078. [PMID: 35077643 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Nanothreads are one-dimensional nanomaterials composed of a primarily sp3 hydrocarbon backbone, typically formed through the compression of small molecules to high pressures. Although nanothreads have been synthesized from a range of precursors, controlling reaction pathways to produce atomically precise materials remains a difficult challenge. Here, we show how heteroatoms within precursors can serve as "thread-directing" groups by selecting for specific cycloaddition reaction pathways. By using a less-reactive diazine group within a six-membered aromatic ring, we successfully predict and synthesize the first carbon nanothread material derived from pyridazine (1,2-diazine, C4H4N2). Compared with previous nanothreads, the synthesized polypyridazine, shows a predominantly uniform chemical structure with exceptional long-range order, allowing for structural characterization using vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results demonstrate how thread-directing groups can be used for reaction pathway control and the formation of chemically precise nanothreads with a high degree of structural order.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G Dunning
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
| | - Li Zhu
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
| | - Bo Chen
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.,IKERBASQUE - Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Stella Chariton
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Vitali B Prakapenka
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Maddury Somayazulu
- HPCAT, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Timothy A Strobel
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C. 20015, United States
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13
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Gerthoffer MC, Xu B, Wu S, Cox J, Huss S, Oburn S, Lopez SA, Crespi V, Badding J, Elacqua E. Mechanistic Insights into the Pressure-Induced Polymerization of Aryl/Perfluoroaryl Co-Crystals. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py01387d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently discovered diamond nanothreads offer a stiff, sp3-hybridized backbone unachievable in conventional polymer synthesis that is formed through the solid-state pressure-induced polymerization of simple aromatics. This method enables monomeric A-B...
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14
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Vibration Control of Diamond Nanothreads by Lattice Defect Introduction for Application in Nanomechanical Sensors. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11092241. [PMID: 34578557 PMCID: PMC8469031 DOI: 10.3390/nano11092241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene sheets (GSs), have been adopted as resonators in vibration-based nanomechanical sensors because of their extremely high stiffness and small size. Diamond nanothreads (DNTs) are a new class of one-dimensional carbon nanomaterials with extraordinary physical and chemical properties. Their structures are similar to that of diamond in that they possess sp3-bonds formed by a covalent interaction between multiple benzene molecules. In this study, we focus on investigating the mechanical properties and vibration behaviors of DNTs with and without lattice defects and examine the influence of density and configuration of lattice defects on the two them in detail, using the molecular dynamics method and a continuum mechanics approach. We find that Young’s modulus and the natural frequency can be controlled by alternating the density of the lattice defects. Furthermore, we investigate and explore the use of DNTs as resonators in nanosensors. It is shown that applying an additional extremely small mass or strain to all types of DNTs significantly changes their resonance frequencies. The results show that, similar to CNTs and GSs, DNTs have potential application as resonators in nano-mass and nano-strain sensors. In particular, the vibration behaviors of DNT resonators can be controlled by alternating the density of the lattice defects to achieve the best sensitivities.
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15
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Bokare A, Arif J, Erogbogbo F. Strategies for Incorporating Graphene Oxides and Quantum Dots into Photoresponsive Azobenzenes for Photonics and Thermal Applications. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:2211. [PMID: 34578524 PMCID: PMC8467028 DOI: 10.3390/nano11092211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Graphene represents a new generation of materials which exhibit unique physicochemical properties such as high electron mobility, tunable optics, a large surface to volume ratio, and robust mechanical strength. These properties make graphene an ideal candidate for various optoelectronic, photonics, and sensing applications. In recent years, numerous efforts have been focused on azobenzene polymers (AZO-polymers) as photochromic molecular switches and thermal sensors because of their light-induced conformations and surface-relief structures. However, these polymers often exhibit drawbacks such as low photon storage lifetime and energy density. Additionally, AZO-polymers tend to aggregate even at moderate doping levels, which is detrimental to their optical response. These issues can be alleviated by incorporating graphene derivatives (GDs) into AZO-polymers to form orderly arranged molecules. GDs such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can modulate the optical response, energy density, and photon storage capacity of these composites. Moreover, they have the potential to prevent aggregation and increase the mechanical strength of the azobenzene complexes. This review article summarizes and assesses literature on various strategies that may be used to incorporate GDs into azobenzene complexes. The review begins with a detailed analysis of structures and properties of GDs and azobenzene complexes. Then, important aspects of GD-azobenzene composites are discussed, including: (1) synthesis methods for GD-azobenzene composites, (2) structure and physicochemical properties of GD-azobenzene composites, (3) characterization techniques employed to analyze GD-azobenzene composites, and most importantly, (4) applications of these composites in various photonics and thermal devices. Finally, a conclusion and future scope are given to discuss remaining challenges facing GD-azobenzene composites in functional science engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Folarin Erogbogbo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San José, CA 95112, USA; (A.B.); (J.A.)
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