A novel oxidized hierarchical porous carbon with vesicule-like ultrathin graphitic walls for efficient removal of anionic and cationic dyes.

This work developed a novel oxidized hierarchical porous carbon (OHPC) with vesicule-like ultrathin graphitic walls via a method of air oxidation and used as an efficient adsorbent for Congo red (CR) and Malachite green (MG) removal. Results show that the OHPC2 oxidized at 400 °C possesses three-dimensional hierarchical pores with vesicule-like ultrathin graphitic walls. The prepared OHPC2 not only has a large specific surface area of 1020 m g with a high pore volume, but also has abundant oxygen-containing functional groups.

Influence of Al-O and Al-C Clusters on Defects in Graphene Nanosheets Derived from Coal-Tar Pitch via AlC Precursor.

By treating AlC as the precursor and growth environment, graphene nanosheets (GNs) can efficiently be derived from coal-tar pitch, which has the advantages of simple preparation process, high product quality, green environmental protection, low equipment requirements and low preparation cost. However, the defects in the prepared GNs have not been well understood. In order to optimize the preparation process, based on density functional theory calculations, the influence mechanism of Al-O and Al-C clusters on defects in GNs derived from coal-tar pitch via AlC precursor has been systematically investigated.

Continuous Dual-Scale Interpenetrating Network Carbon Foam-Stearic Acid Composite as a Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Material with a Desirable Synergistic Effect.

For enhancing the heat storage and encapsulation performances of organic phase change materials (PCMs), a carbon foam (CF) with a continuous dual-scale pore structure (DCF) was developed. Employing the as-prepared DCF as a stearic acid (SA) support, a novel shape-stabilized SA-CF composite PCM with a continuous dual-scale interpenetrating network structure was achieved through the impregnation of SA into the DCF. DCF-900, prepared at an activation temperature of 900 °C, possesses a high loading capacity of 89.

Regulation pore size distribution for facilitating malachite green removal on carbon foam.

Malachite green (MG) is widely used as a textile dye and an aquacultural biocide, and become a serious pollution of drink water, but effectually isolating and removing it from wastewater are still a challenge. Here we report a new strategy to prepare a carbon foam with tunable pore size distribution by a one-pot lava foam process. We find that uniform micropore size is beneficial to the formation of C-OH coordination on the pore surface, increasing MG adsorption rates via H ionization.

The interlayer coupling modulation of a g-CN/WTe heterostructure for solar cell applications.

Constructing van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures has been proved to be an excellent strategy to design or modulate the physical and chemical properties of 2D materials. Here, we investigated the electronic structures and solar cell performances of the g-CN/WTe heterostructure first-principles calculations. It is highlighted that the g-CN/WTe heterostructure presents a type-II band edge alignment with a band gap of 1.

Microscopic origin of graphene nanosheets derived from coal-tar pitch by treating AlC as the intermediate.

The development of environmentally friendly, simple process and low cost synthesis methods for preparing graphene nanosheets (GNs) has attracted global interest. In this work, a simple and efficient method to synthesize GNs deriving from coal-tar pitch has been proposed from both experimental and theoretical point of views. The XRD, TEM and Raman results demonstrate that precursor Al4C3 could provide a growth environment for the final product of GNs.

Exceptional Mechanical Properties and Heat Resistance of Photocurable Bismaleimide Ink for 3D Printing.

Photosensitive resins used in three-dimensional (3D) printing are characterized by high forming precision and fast processing speed; however, they often possess poor mechanical properties and heat resistance. In this study, we report a photocurable bismaleimide ink with excellent comprehensive performance for stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing. First, the main chain of bismaleimide with an amino group (BDM) was synthesized, and then, the glycidyl methacrylate was grafted to the amino group to obtain the bismaleimide oligomer with an unsaturated double bond.

Facile preparation of robust dual MgO-loaded carbon foam as an efficient adsorbent for malachite green removal.

This study developed a facile approach for the fabrication of dual MgO-loaded carbon foam (DMCF) via carbonization of a cured MgO/cyanate ester resin mixture, which underwent self-foaming of the resin followed by the carbothermal reduction of MgO. The features of the prepared DMCF prepared were characterized by FESEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and so on, and the effects of adsorption conditions, adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics on malachite green (MG) removal using the DMCF as adsorbents were investigated through batch adsorption experiments. Results demonstrate that the DMCF possesses a unique dual loading of MgO particles which are not only loaded onto its foam walls but also filled within the walls with a graphene-wrapped core-shell structure.

A stiff ZnO/carbon foam composite with second-level macroporous structure filled ZnO particles for heavy metal ions removal.

A stiff zinc oxide/carbon foam (ZnO/CF) composite as a desirable adsorbent for heavy metal ions was innovatively designed and fabricated by loading ZnO particles into a carbon foam with capsule-like second-level macropores. The features of the resulting composite were characterized by FESEM, XRD, BET, FTIR, and XPS. The effects of adsorption parameters on the Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cu(II) ions removal were studied through batch experiments.

A novel hierarchical stiff carbon foam with graphene-like nanosheet surface as the desired adsorbent for malachite green removal from wastewater.

A novel hierarchical stiff carbon foam (HSCF) was successfully prepared via a carbothermal reduction between the carbon foam with two-level pore structure and the AlO from aluminum sulfate, and used as a bulk adsorbent for removing malachite green (MG) dye. The structures of the HSCF were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, and XPS, and the effects of adsorption condition on the MG removal were studied through batch adsorption experiments. Results show that large-sized and complex-shaped HSCF can be easily fabricated with a high compression strength of 1.

Preparation of discrete cage-like oxidized hollow carbon spheres with vertically aligned graphene-like nanosheet surface for high performance Pb absorption.

A novel oxidized hollow carbon sphere (OHCS) as absorbent for the removal of Pb was fabricated from the mixture of coal-tar pitch and aluminum isopropoxide followed by nitric acid oxidation. The as-prepared OHCSs were characterized by FESEM, TEM, BET, TG, FTIR and XPS, and meanwhile the effects of adsorption conditions on the Pb removal were investigated by batch experiments. Results show that the OHCSs prepared possess discrete cage-like structures and well-defined inner/outer surface features, exhibiting vertically aligned graphene-like nanosheets on their surfaces with mesoporous nature and high hydrophobicity.

Preparation and application of porous nitrogen-doped graphene obtained by co-pyrolysis of lignosulfonate and graphene oxide.

Nitrogen-doped graphene with in-plane porous structure was fabricated by simple co-pyrolysis of lignosulfonate and graphene oxide in the presence of urea. Lignosulfonate first performs as a dispersant adsorbed on the surface of graphene oxide to prevent the aggregation of graphene oxide sheets for preparing homogeneous nitrogen-containing precursor, and then acts as a porogen to render graphene sheets with nanopores in the pyrolysis process of the nitrogen-containing precursor. Urea was used as a nitrogen source to incorporate nitrogen atoms into graphene basal plane.

Self-assembled poly(N-methylaniline)-lignosulfonate spheres: from silver-ion adsorbent to antimicrobial material.

Self-assembled poly(N-methylaniline)-lignosulfonate (PNMA-LS) composite spheres with reactive silver-ion adsorbability were prepared from N-methylaniline by using lignosulfonate (LS) as a dispersant. The results show that the PNMA-LS composite consisted of spheres with good size distribution and an average diameter of 1.03-1.

Fabrication, characterization and application of nitrogen-containing carbon nanospheres obtained by pyrolysis of lignosulfonate/poly(2-ethylaniline).

Lignosulfonate/poly(2-ethylaniline) (LS-PEA) composite nanospheres were prepared via in situ polymerization of 2-ethylaniline (EA) with lignosulfonate (LS) as a dispersant. LS-PEA nanospheres with an average diameter of 155 nm were obtained at an optimal LS concentration of 20 wt.%.

Fabrication of poly(N-ethylaniline)/lignosulfonate composites and their carbon microspheres.

Novel poly(N-ethylaniline)/lignosulfonate (PNA-LS) composites were prepared via an in situ polymerization of N-ethylaniline (NA) with lignosulfonate (LS) as a dispersant. Nitrogen-containing carbon materials were obtained by direct pyrolysis of the PNA-LS composites at the pyrolytic temperatures ranging from 300°C to 1200°C. The as-prepared PNA-LS composites and their carbon materials were investigated by TGA, SEM, TEM, FTIR and UV-vis spectra, XRD and elemental analysis.