Fluorine-doped graphene with an outstanding electrocatalytic performance for efficient oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solution

Progress Made in Non-Metallic-Doped Materials for Electrocatalytic Reduction in Ammonia Production

The electrocatalytic production of ammonia has garnered considerable interest as a potentially sustainable technology for ammonia synthesis. Recently, non-metallic-doped materials have emerged as promising electrochemical catalysts for this purpose. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest research on non-metallic-doped materials for electrocatalytic ammonia production. Researchers have engineered a variety of materials, doped with non-metals such as nitrogen (N), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), into different forms and structures to enhance their electrocatalytic activity and selectivity. A comparison among different non-metallic dopants reveals their distinct effects on the electrocatalytic performance for ammonia production. For instance, N-doping has shown enhanced activity owing to the introduction of nitrogen vacancies (NVs) and improved charge transfer kinetics. B-doping has demonstrated improved selectivity and stability, which is attributed to the formation of active sites and the suppression of competing reactions. P-doping has exhibited increased ammonia generation rates and Faradaic efficiencies, likely due to the modification of the electronic structure and surface properties. S-doping has shown potential for enhancing electrocatalytic performance, although further investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. These comparisons provide valuable insights for researchers to conduct in-depth studies focusing on specific non-metallic dopants, exploring their unique properties, and optimizing their performance for electrocatalytic ammonia production. However, we consider it a priority to provide insight into the recent progress made in non-metal-doped materials and their potential for enabling long-term and efficient electrochemical ammonia production. Additionally, this paper discusses the synthetic procedures used to produce non-metal-doped materials and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each method. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the electrochemical performance of these materials, including their Faradaic efficiencies, ammonia yield rate, and selectivity. It examines the challenges and prospects of developing non-metallic-doped materials for electrocatalytic ammonia production and suggests future research directions.

Engineering functionalization and properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with controllable synthesis for energy and display applications

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a new type of 0D nanomaterial, are composed of a graphene lattice with sp2 bonding carbon core and characterized by their abundant edges and wide surface area. This unique structure imparts excellent electrical properties and exceptional physicochemical adsorption capabilities to GQDs. Additionally, the reduction in dimensionality of graphene leads to an open band gap in GQDs, resulting in their unique optical properties. The functional groups and dopants in GQDs are key factors that allow the modulation of these characteristics. So, controlling the functionalization level of GQDs is crucial for understanding their characteristics and further application. This review provides an overview of the properties and structure of GQDs and summarizes recent developments in research that focus on their controllable synthesis, involving functional groups and doping. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive and focused explanation of how GQDs have been advantageously applied in recent years, particularly in the fields of energy storage devices and displays.

α-NiO/Ni(OH)2/AgNP/F-Graphene Composite for Energy Storage Application

The α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP/F-graphene composite, which is silver nanoparticles preanchored on the surface of fluorinated graphene (AgNP/FG) and then added to α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂, is investigated as a potential battery material. The addition of AgNP/FG endows the electrochemical redox reaction of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂ with a synergistic effect, resulting in enhanced Faradaic efficiency with the redox reactions of silver accompanied by the OER and the ORR. It resulted in enhanced specific capacitance (F g^-1) and capacity (mA h g^-1). The specific capacitance of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂ increased from 148 to 356 F g^-1 with the addition of AgNP(20)/FG, while it increased to 226 F g^-1 with the addition of AgNPs alone without F-graphene. The specific capacitance of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP(20)/FG further increased up to 1153 F g^-1 with a change in the voltage scan rate from 20 to 5 mV/s and the Nafion-free α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP(20)/FG composite. In a similar trend, the specific capacity of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂ increased from 266 to 545 mA h g^-1 by the addition of AgNP(20)/FG. The performance of hybrid Zn-Ni/Ag/air electrochemical reactions by α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP(200)/FG and Zn-coupled electrodes indicates a potential for a secondary battery. It results in a specific capacity of 1200 mA h g^-1 and a specific energy of 660 W h kg^-1, which is divided into Zn-Ni reactions of ∼95 W h kg^-1 and Zn-Ag/air reactions of ∼420 W h kg^-1, while undergoing a Zn-air reaction of ∼145 W h kg^-1.

Substantial Variations in the Optical Absorption and Reflectivity of Graphene When the Concentrations of Vacancies and Doping with Fluorine, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Change

We performed ab initio numerical simulations with the density functional theory to investigate the variations in the band structure, optical absorption, and the reflectivity of vacancy-graphene doped with nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine for different densities. We considered the density values 0.78%, 1.02%, 1.39%, 2.00%, 3.12%, 5.55%, and 12.5% for the vacancies and doping. In the infrared and visible ranges for all cases, vacancies included, there is a substantial increment in the absorption and reflectivity concerning graphene. The most significant changes are for fluorine and oxygen at a concentration of 12.5%.

Platinum nanoparticle decorated vertically aligned graphene screen-printed electrodes: electrochemical characterisation and exploration towards the hydrogen evolution reaction

We present the fabrication of platinum (Pt⁰) nanoparticle (ca. 3 nm average diameter) decorated vertically aligned graphene (VG) screen-printed electrodes (Pt/VG-SPE) and explore their physicochemical characteristics and electrocatalytic activity towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media (0.5 M H₂SO₄). The Pt/VG-SPEs exhibit remarkable HER activity with an overpotential (recorded at -10 mA cm^-2) and Tafel value of 47 mV (vs. RHE) and 27 mV dec^-1. These values demonstrate the Pt/VG-SPEs as significantly more electrocatalytic than a bare/unmodified VG-SPE (789 mV (vs. RHE) and 97 mV dec^-1). The uniform coverage of Pt⁰ nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm) upon the VG-SPE support results in a low loading of Pt⁰ nanoparticles (ca. 4 μg cm^-2), yet yields comparable HER activity to optimal Pt based catalysts reported in the literature, with the advantages of being comparatively cheap, highly reproducible and tailorable platforms for HER catalysis. In order to test any potential dissolution of Pt⁰ from the Pt/VG-SPE surface, which is a key consideration for any HER catalyst, we additively manufactured (AM) a bespoke electrochemical flow cell that allowed for the electrolyte to be collected at regular intervals and analysed via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The AM electrochemical cell can be rapidly tailored to a plethora of geometries making it compatible with any size/shape of electrochemical platform. This work presents a novel and highly competitive HER platform and a novel AM technique for exploring the extent of Pt⁰ nanoparticle dissolution upon the electrode surface, making it an essential study for those seeking to test the stability/catalyst discharge of their given electrochemical platforms.

Shock Exfoliation of Graphene Fluoride in Microwave

An unprecedented microwave-based strategy is developed to facilitate solid-phase, instantaneous delamination and decomposition of graphite fluoride (GF) into few-layer, partially fluorinated graphene. The shock reaction occurs (and completes in few seconds) under microwave irradiation upon exposing GF to either "microwave-induced plasma" generated in vacuum or "catalyst effect" caused by intense sparking of graphite at ambient conditions. A detailed analysis of the structural and compositional transformations in these processes indicates that the GF experiences considerable exfoliation and defluorination, during which sp² -bonded carbon is partially recovered despite significant structural defects being introduced. The exfoliated fluorinated graphene shows excellent electrochemical performance as anode materials in potassium ion batteries and as catalysts for the conversion of O₂ to H₂ O₂ . This simple and scalable method requires minimal energy input and does not involve the use of other chemicals, which is attractive for extensive research in fluorine-containing graphene and its derivatives in laboratories and industrial applications.