CO-Derived Nanocarbons with Controlled Morphology and High Specific Capacitance.

The conversion of CO to nanocarbons addresses a dual goal of harmful CO elimination from the atmosphere along with the production of valuable nanocarbon materials. In the present study, a simple one-step metallothermic CO reduction to nanocarbons was performed at 675 °C with the usage of a Mg reductant. The latter was employed alone and in its mixture with ferrocene, which was found to control the morphology of the produced nanocarbons.

Direct versus reverse vertical two-dimensional MoC/graphene heterostructures for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysis.

MoC/graphene heterostructures prepared by chemical vapor deposition have demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This is attributed to the high catalytic activity of MoC while the high electrical conductivity of graphene facilitates charge transfer. In the as-grown direct vertical order, graphene is placed above the MoC film.

MoC/graphene heterostructures: low temperature chemical vapor deposition on liquid bimetallic Sn-Cu and hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalytic properties.

Thin 2D MoC/graphene vertical heterostructures have attracted significant attention due to their potential application as electrodes in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and energy storage. A common drawback in the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of these structures is the demand for high temperature growth, which should be higher than the melting temperature of the metal catalyst. The most common metallic catalyst is Cu, which has a melting temperature of 1084 °C.

Physical Properties of Photo-Aged Graphene/Polypropylene Nanocomposites.

In the present research, graphene nanoplatelets/polypropylene (GNP/PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing and were subjected to accelerated ageing. The effect of graphene on the morphology and physical properties of aged GNP/PP nanocomposites was investigated. The incorporation of graphene to non-aged PP matrix led to changes in its crystal conformation, decreased the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) transmittance and tensile strain and increased the elastic modulus.

Recycling of typical supercapacitor materials.

A simple, facile and low-cost method for recycling of supercapacitor materials is proposed. This process aims to recover some fundamental components of a used supercapacitor, namely the electrolyte salt tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEABF4) dissolved in an aprotic organic solvent such as acetonitrile (ACN), the carbonaceous material (activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes) purified, the current collector (aluminium foil) and the separator (paper) for further utilization. The method includes mechanical shredding of the supercapacitor in order to reduce its size, and separation of aluminium foil and paper from the carbonaceous resources containing TEABF4 by sieving.

Photocatalytic degradation of mecoprop and clopyralid in aqueous suspensions of nanostructured N-doped TiO2.

The work describes a study of the oxidation power of N-doped and undoped anatase TiO(2), as well as TiO(2) Degussa P25 suspensions for photocatalytic degradation of the herbicides RS-2-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy)propionic acid (mecoprop) and 3,6-dichloro-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (clopyralid) using visible and UV light. Undoped nanostructured TiO(2) powder in the form of anatase was prepared by a sol-gel route. The synthesized TiO(2), as well as TiO(2) Degussa P25 powder, were modified with urea to introduce nitrogen into the structure.