Graphene Oxide Facilitates Transformation of Waste PET into MOF Nanorods in Ionic Liquids.

Although though ionic liquids (IL) are rapidly emerging as highly efficient reagents for the depolymerization of waste plastics, their high cost and adverse impact on the environment make the overall process not only expensive but also environmentally harmful. In this manuscript, we report that graphene oxide (GO) facilitates the transformation of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to Ni-MOF (metal organic framework) nanorods anchored on reduced graphene oxide (Ni-MOF@rGO) through NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone)-based coordination in ionic liquids. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed mesoporous three-dimensional structures of micrometer-long Ni-MOF nanorods anchored on reduced graphene substrates (Ni-MOF@rGO ), whereas structural studies using XRD and Raman spectra demonstrated the crystallinity of Ni-MOF nanorods.

Coordination Polymer Framework-Derived Ni-N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes for Electro-Oxidation of Urea.

Electrochemical oxidation of urea (UOR) is critical in the removal of urea from wastewater and energy conservation and storage. Nickel-based catalysts are widely used for urea-ORR, but in all cases, the nickel must be hybridized with carbon materials to improve its conductivity. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the synthesis of a nickel-decorated carbon nanotube (Ni-NCNT) by simple microwave pyrolysis of Dabco (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.

Metal-Organic Framework Reinforced Acrylic Polymer Marine Coatings.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of crystalline, porous, 3D materials synthesized by the linking of metal nodes and organic linkers are rapidly emerging as attractive materials in gas storage, electrodes in batteries, super-capacitors, sensors, water treatment, and medicine etc. However the utility of MOFs in coatings, especially in marine coatings, has not been thoroughly investigated. In this manuscript we report the first study on silver MOF (Ag-MOF) functionalized acrylic polymers for marine coatings.

DABCO Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes for Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Contaminated Water.

Though chemically-derived reduced graphene oxide (CDG) from graphite oxide (GO) precursors is a widely practiced procedure for the large-scale production of graphene, the quality and quantity of thus obtained CDG is dependent on the reduction strategy used. In this work, we report an all-solid-state, residue-free, microwave process for the reduction of graphene oxide and subsequent growth of carbon nanotube 'separators' from a single precursor, namely DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.

Metal Organic Frameworks Derived Fe-N-C Nanostructures as High-Performance Electrodes for Sodium Ion Batteries and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding.

Metal organic framework (MOF)-derived carbon nanostructures (MDC) synthesized by either calcinations or carbonization or pyrolysis are emerging as attractive materials for a wide range of applications like batteries, super-capacitors, sensors, water treatment, etc. But the process of transformation of MOFs into MDCs is time-consuming, with reactions requiring inert atmospheres and reaction time typically running into hours. In this manuscript, we report the transformation of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.

Metal Organic Framework Derived MnO-Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Arsenic Removal from Contaminated Water.

Even though manganese oxides are attractive materials for batteries, super-capacitors and electro-catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions, in most practical applications MnO needs to be hybridized with conductive carbon nano-structures to overcome its inherent poor electrical conductivity. In this manuscript we report microwave-assisted synthesis of MnO embedded carbon nanotubes (MnO@CNT) from Mn-HBTC (benzene-1,3,5-carboxylic acid) metal organic frameworks (MOF) precursors. Using graphene oxide as microwave susceptible surface, MnO nano-particles embedded in three dimensional reduced graphene oxide (rGO) -CNT frameworks (MnO@CNT-rGO) were synthesized which when applied as electro-catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) demonstrated comparable half-wave potential to commercial Pt/C, better stability, and excellent immunity to methanol crossover effect in alkaline media.

Transforming Waste Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) into Nitrogen Doped Carbon Nanotubes and Its Utility in Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Bisphenol-A Removal from Contaminated Water.

Till date, waste plastics are either down-cycled to cheap products like fibers or burnt in incinerators to generate heat. In this manuscript, we report a simple and effective technique for microwave induced transformation of waste polyethylene terephthalate (wPET) to carbon nano-tubes (CNT). Iron nano-particles dispersed on graphene substrate acted as catalyst for CNT growth whereas urea served the dual role of de-polymerisation of wPET and also as nitrogen doping agent.

Extraction of Microfibrillar Cellulose From Waste Paper by NaOH/Urethane Aqueous System and Its Utility in Removal of Lead from Contaminated Water.

Though recycling of waste paper is widely practiced but usually it is downgraded to lower valued recycled waste paper. Based on this concern, we report the development of novel NaOH/urethane aqueous system for extraction of microfibrillated cellulose from waste paper. The purity of so obtained microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was evaluated by morphological tests using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by evaluation of physicochemical properties using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Vitamin Derived Nitrogen Doped Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Arsenic Removal from Contaminated Water.

Nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNT) that were prepared by simple microwave pyrolysis of Niacin (Vitamin B) as noble metal free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is reported. Our newly developed technique has the distinct features of sustainable and widely available niacin as a bi-functional source of both carbon and nitrogen, whereas the iron catalyst is cheap and the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust. The results of the electrochemical tests show that our newly developed iron impregnated NCNT anchored on reduced graphene substrate (Fe@NCNT-rGO) catalyst exhibit: a positive half-wave potential (E) of 0.

Blister packing of copper hydroxide and titania nanoparticles on graphene and its recycling.

Metal nanoparticles anchored on a graphene substrate find many applications such as sensors, catalysts, lithium ion batteries, etc. However, to date, graphene-metal nanohybrids have been synthesized by either covalent or ionic interactions between the graphene substrate and the metal nanoparticles. In this manuscript, we report a green and facile method to "bubble pack" metal nanoparticles on a graphene substrate by a simple process utilizing eco-friendly ionic liquids in conjunction with microwave heating.

Arsenic removal from contaminated water using three-dimensional graphene-carbon nanotube-iron oxide nanostructures.

We report a highly versatile and one-pot microwave route to the mass production of three-dimensional graphene-carbon nanotube-iron oxide nanostructures for the efficient removal of arsenic from contaminated water. The unique three-dimensional nanostructure shows that carbon nanotubes are vertically standing on graphene sheets and iron oxide nanoparticles are decorated on both the graphene and the carbon nanotubes. The material with iron oxide nanoparticles shows excellent absorption for arsenic removal from contaminated water, due to its high surface-to-volume ratio and open pore network of the graphene-carbon nanotube-iron oxide three-dimensional nanostructures.

Graphene--nanotube--iron hierarchical nanostructure as lithium ion battery anode.

In this study, we report a novel route via microwave irradiation to synthesize a bio-inspired hierarchical graphene--nanotube--iron three-dimensional nanostructure as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries. The nanostructure comprises vertically aligned carbon nanotubes grown directly on graphene sheets along with shorter branches of carbon nanotubes stemming out from both the graphene sheets and the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. This bio-inspired hierarchical structure provides a three-dimensional conductive network for efficient charge-transfer and prevents the agglomeration and restacking of the graphene sheets enabling Li-ions to have greater access to the electrode material.

Defect-engineered three-dimensional graphene-nanotube-palladium nanostructures with ultrahigh capacitance.

The development of three-dimensional carbon-based nanostructures is the next step forward for boosting industrial applications of carbon nanomaterials such as graphenes and carbon nanotubes. Some defects, which have been considered as detrimental factors for maintaining exceptional materials properties of two-dimensional graphene, can be actively used to synthesize three-dimensional graphene-based carbon nanostructures. Here we describe a fast and heretofore unreported defect-engineered method to synthesize three-dimensional carbon nanohybrid structures with strong bonding between graphene nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes using simple microwave irradiation and an ionic liquid.

Electrospun fullerenol-cellulose biocompatible actuators.

Though there are many stimuli-responsive polymer actuators based on synthetic polymers, electroactive natural biopolymer actuators are very rare. We developed an electrospun fullernol-cellulose biocompatible actuator with much lower power consumption and larger electromechanical displacement in comparison with a pure cellulose acetate actuator. Morphology of the electrospun membranes resembles the nanoporous structure of extracellular matrix in natural muscles.

A coagulation technique for purification of graphene sheets with graphene-reinforced PVA hydrogel as byproduct.

A simple and rapid coagulation method to separate graphene from partially or incompletely reduced graphene oxide is developed in this study. Our isolation technique is not only simple and effective but also can be applied to a quality control in graphene production. Interestingly, the byproduct of our technique is valuable graphene-reinforced PVA hydrogel.