The Characteristics of Graphene Obtained from Rice Husk and Graphite

A Review on Graphene Based Materials and Their Antimicrobial Properties

Graphene-based materials are found as excellent resources and employed as efficient anti-microbial agents, and they have been receiving significant attention from scientists and researchers in this regard. By giving special attention to recent applications of graphene-based materials, the current review is dedicated to unveiling the antimicrobial properties of graphene and its hybrid composites and their preparation methods. Different factors like the number of layers, concentration, size, and shape of the antibacterial activity are thoroughly discussed. Graphene-based materials could damage the bacteria physically by directly contacting the cell membrane or wrapping the bacterial cell. It can also chemically react to bacteria through oxidative stress and charge transfer mechanisms. This review explains such mechanisms thoroughly and summarizes the antibacterial applications (wound bandages, coatings, food packaging, etc.) of graphene and its hybrid materials.

Thermodynamically Equilibrium Compositions of the Products Formed During the Filtration Combustion of the Metal-Containing Mixtures

Thermodynamic calculations for describing the compositions of the products formed in conditions of the filtration combustion of the metal-containing mixtures were carried out. The analysis of the equilibrium compositions of the products was carried out using the TERRA high-temperature thermochemical equilibrium calculation program. According to the results of calculations, the metals were divided into two groups. First one forms both the condensed and gaseous phases and in the second one ‒ metals that are only in the condensed phase. In case of the presence of metal compounds in the gas phase, as a rule, these are the following compounds: metals, oxides, hydroxides, hydrides, sulfides and metal sulfates. Metals of the second group cannot be subjected to mass transfer under conditions of the filtration combustion wave and will remain in solid combustion products (in ash).

Modified Activated Graphene-Based Carbon Electrodes from Rice Husk for Supercapacitor Applications

The renewable biomass material obtained from rice husk, a low-cost agricultural waste, was used as a precursor to synthesize a highly porous graphene-based carbon as electrode material for supercapacitors. Activated graphene-based carbon (AGC) was obtained by a two-step chemical procedure and exhibited a very high specific surface area (SSA) of 3292 m2 g−1. The surface morphology of the synthesized materials was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). Furthermore, the AGC was modified with nickel hydroxide Ni(OH)2 through a simple chemical precipitation method. It was found that the most significant increase in capacitance could be reached with Ni(OH)2 loadings of around 9 wt.%. The measured specific capacitance of the pure AGC supercapacitor electrodes was 236 F g−1, whereas electrodes from the material modified with 9 wt.% Ni(OH)2 showed a specific capacitance of up to 300 F g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1. The increase in specific capacitance achieved due to chemical modification was, therefore 27%.