Sulfur-Doped g-CN Heterojunctions for Efficient Visible Light Degradation of Methylene Blue.

The discharge of synthetic dyes from different industrial sources has become a global issue of concern. Enormous amounts are released into wastewater each year, causing concerns due to the high toxic consequences. Photocatalytic semiconductors appear as a green and sustainable form of remediation.

Tuning electronic and magnetic properties through disorder in VO nanoparticles.

We report on the synthesis and characterization of VO nanoparticles grown using a sol-gel method at different calcination temperatures. We observed a surprising reduction in the optical band gap from 2.20 to 1.

Rational Design of Photo-Electrochemical Hybrid Devices Based on Graphene and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Light-Harvesting Proteins.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been highlighted as the promising alternative to generate clean energy based on low pay-back time materials. These devices have been designed to mimic solar energy conversion processes from photosynthetic organisms (the most efficient energy transduction phenomenon observed in nature) with the aid of low-cost materials. Recently, light-harvesting complexes (LHC) have been proposed as potential dyes in DSSCs based on their higher light-absorption efficiencies as compared to synthetic dyes.

Synthesis of structurally well-defined and liquid-phase-processable graphene nanoribbons.

The properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) make them good candidates for next-generation electronic materials. Whereas 'top-down' methods, such as the lithographical patterning of graphene and the unzipping of carbon nanotubes, give mixtures of different GNRs, structurally well-defined GNRs can be made using a 'bottom-up' organic synthesis approach through solution-mediated or surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenation reactions. Specifically, non-planar polyphenylene precursors were first 'built up' from small molecules, and then 'graphitized' and 'planarized' to yield GNRs.

Electrochemically exfoliated graphene as solution-processable, highly conductive electrodes for organic electronics.

Solution-processable thin layer graphene is an intriguing nanomaterial with tremendous potential for electronic applications. In this work, we demonstrate that electrochemical exfoliation of graphite furnishes graphene sheets of high quality. The electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EG) contains a high yield (>80%) of one- to three-layer graphene flakes with high C/O ratio of 12.

Structurally defined graphene nanoribbons with high lateral extension.

Oxidative cyclodehydrogenation of laterally extended polyphenylene precursor allowed bottom-up synthesis of structurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with unprecedented width. The efficiency of the cyclodehydrogenation was validated by means of MALDI-TOF MS, FT-IR, Raman, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopies as well as investigation of a representative model system. The produced GNRs demonstrated broad absorption extended to near-infrared region with the optical band gap of as low as 1.

Nitrogen-doped graphene and its iron-based composite as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction.

The high cost of platinum-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has hindered the practical application of fuel cells. Thanks to its unique chemical and structural properties, nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) is among the most promising metal-free catalysts for replacing platinum. In this work, we have developed a cost-effective synthesis of NG by using cyanamide as a nitrogen source and graphene oxide as a precursor, which led to high and controllable nitrogen contents (4.

From nanographene and graphene nanoribbons to graphene sheets: chemical synthesis.

Graphene, an individual two-dimensional, atomically thick sheet of graphite composed of a hexagonal network of sp(2) carbon atoms, has been intensively investigated since its first isolation in 2004, which was based on repeated peeling of highly oriented pyrolyzed graphite (HOPG). The extraordinary electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene make it a promising candidate for practical applications in electronics, sensing, catalysis, energy storage, conversion, etc. Both the theoretical and experimental studies proved that the properties of graphene are mainly dependent on their geometric structures.

High quality dispersions of hexabenzocoronene in organic solvents.

We have studied the exfoliation and dispersion of hexabenzocoronene (HBC) in 28 different solvents. We see a wide range of dispersed concentrations and aggregation states, all of which can be related to the solvent properties. To a first approximation, the dispersed concentration is maximized for solvents with Hildebrand solubility parameter close to 21 MPa(1/2), similar to graphitic materials such as nanotubes and graphene.

Porous iron oxide ribbons grown on graphene for high-performance lithium storage.

A well-designed nanostructure of transition metal oxides has been regarded as a key to solve their problems of large volume changes during lithium insertion-desertion processes which are associated with pulverization of the electrodes and rapid capacity decay. Here we report an effective approach for the fabrication of porous iron oxide ribbons by controlling the nucleation and growth of iron precursor onto the graphene surface and followed by an annealing treatment. The resultant iron oxide ribbons possess large aspect ratio, porous structure, thin feature and enhanced open-edges.

Graphene nanoribbons as low band gap donor materials for organic photovoltaics: quantum chemical aided design.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are strips of graphene cut along a specific direction that feature peculiar electronic and optical properties owing to lateral confinement effects. We show here by means of (time-dependent) density functional theory calculations that GNRs with properly designed edge structures fulfill the requirements in terms of electronic level alignment with common acceptors (namely, C(60)), solar light harvesting, and singlet-triplet exchange energy to be used as low band gap semiconductors for organic photovoltaics.

Measurement of multicomponent solubility parameters for graphene facilitates solvent discovery.

We have measured the dispersibility of graphene in 40 solvents, with 28 of them previously unreported. We have shown that good solvents for graphene are characterized by a Hildebrand solubility parameter of delta(T) approximately 23 MPa(1/2) and Hansen solubility parameters of delta(D) approximately 18 MPa(1/2), delta(P) approximately 9.3 MPa(1/2), and delta(H) approximately 7.

Flexible, transparent, conducting films of randomly stacked graphene from surfactant-stabilized, oxide-free graphene dispersions.

Graphite is exfoliated in water to give dispersions of mono- and few-layer graphene stabilized by surfactant. These dispersions can be used to form thin, disordered films of randomly stacked, oxide-free, few-layer graphenes. These films are transparent with a direct current conductivity of up to 1.

Liquid phase production of graphene by exfoliation of graphite in surfactant/water solutions.

We have demonstrated a method to disperse and exfoliate graphite to give graphene suspended in water-surfactant solutions. Optical characterization of these suspensions allowed the partial optimization of the dispersion process. Transmission electron microscopy showed the dispersed phase to consist of small graphitic flakes.

Preparation of buckypaper-copper composites and investigation of their conductivity and mechanical properties.

Buckypaper-metal composites are prepared by substrate-enhanced electroless deposition of copper onto strips of buckypaper (see picture). Electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of these buckypaper-copper composites at different copper content are investigated. The conductivity is shown to increases by up to 350 %, and the Young's modulus and the ultimate tensile strength of the composites by 282 % and 290 % respectively over pristine buckypaper.

Carbon-nanotube-polymer nanocomposites for field-emission cathodes.

The electron field-emission (FE) characteristics of functionalized single-walled carbon-nanotube (CNT)-polymer composites produced by solution processing are reported. It is shown that excellent electron emission can be obtained by using as little as 0.7% volume fraction of nanotubes in the composite.

High-yield production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite.

Fully exploiting the properties of graphene will require a method for the mass production of this remarkable material. Two main routes are possible: large-scale growth or large-scale exfoliation. Here, we demonstrate graphene dispersions with concentrations up to approximately 0.