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Graphene and Other 2D Layered Nanomaterials and Hybrid Structures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Volume II)

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2025) | Viewed by 10821

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Federico Cesano

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Turin University, 10125 Torino, Italy
Interests: composite/hybrid materials and nanomaterials; surface Science; microscopies and spectroscopies; catalysis and photocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Domenica Scarano

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria, 7, 10125 Torino, Italy
Interests: 2D materials; carbons; oxides; polymers and their composite/hybrid materials and nanomaterials; piezoelectric and piezoresistive materials; functional materials; magnetic materials; interface and surface properties; microscopies and spectroscopies; electrical properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to highlighting significant findings in the field of materials based on two-dimensional/layered systems, their hybrid structures, and composite materials. Graphene, together with a variety of newly developed 2D inorganic systems, has attracted a remarkable amount of attention due to its unprecedented properties/superior performance, encouraging its application in many fields. These two-dimensional systems are known for the fact that they are ultrathin, and hence, tend to be flexible, while also presenting nearly intrinsic and distinctive characteristics, including electronic, magnetic, optical, thermal conductivity, and superconducting properties. Furthermore, the combination of different structures and synergetic effects may open new and unprecedented perspectives, making these ideally assembled systems multifunctional and advanced materials. On this matter, significant examples come from the stacking together of 2D crystals, which can perfectly tune materials to the wavelengths of solar light. On the other hand, the ultralow sliding friction resulting from the contact between two crystalline materials or a crystalline material with a more disordered system makes superlubricity possible, which implies a reduction by orders of magnitude in friction compared to that measured for their 3D counterparts.

This Special Issue is primarily addressing two-dimensional (nano)structures and layered materials, from their syntheses/characterizations to their applications. Fundamental findings and theoretical studies contributing to the understanding of their basic principles are also welcomed.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the preparation, properties, and applications of materials containing:

  • Few-layered materials;
  • Graphene and graphene-like systems (i.e., graphene oxide);
  • Transition metal dichalcogenides, carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides;
  • Silicene, germanene, stanene, and phosphorene;
  • van der Waals heterostructures, and all-inorganic and organic–inorganic hybrids;
  • 2D organic framework systems and 2D polymers.

Prof. Dr. Federico Cesano
Prof. Dr. Domenica Scarano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • 2D systems
  • graphene
  • graphene analogues
  • layered materials
  • hybrid structures
  • van der Waals heterostructures
  • synthesis
  • properties
  • characterization
  • applications

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 11047 KiB  
Article
Memory Effect of Double Oxides Compared to Simple Ion Exchange for Controlled Fluoride Ion Capture and Release
by Asma Alazreg, Vladisav Tadić, Adela Egelja, Andrija Savić, Aleksandra Šaponjić, Marija M. Vuksanović and Radmila Jančić Heinemann
Materials 2025, 18(1), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18010162 - 3 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 782
Abstract
A layered double hydroxide (LDH) containing Mg and Al was synthesized from a nitrate solution using a coprecipitation method. The resulting material exhibited a homogeneous structure, which, upon calcination at 450 °C, was converted into a layered double oxide (LDO). When rehydrated in [...] Read more.
A layered double hydroxide (LDH) containing Mg and Al was synthesized from a nitrate solution using a coprecipitation method. The resulting material exhibited a homogeneous structure, which, upon calcination at 450 °C, was converted into a layered double oxide (LDO). When rehydrated in a fluoride-containing aqueous solution, the original hydroxide structure was successfully regenerated, demonstrating the LDH’s memory effect. During this transformation, fluoride anions from the solution were incorporated into the interlayer galleries to maintain electroneutrality, as confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Separately, the process was tested in the presence of ethanol, which significantly enhanced the incorporation of fluoride ions into the interlayer spaces. The material’s potential for controlled fluoride release was evaluated by monitoring its release into demineralized water. For comparison, a simple ion-exchange process was carried out using the as-synthesized MgAl LDH. The memory effect mechanism displayed a notably higher fluoride incorporation capacity compared to the ion-exchange process. Among all the specimens, the sample reconstructed in the presence of ethanol exhibited the highest fluoride ion content. Fluoride release studies revealed a two-phase pattern: an initial rapid release within the first three hours, followed by a substantially slower release over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene and Other 2D Layered Nanomaterials and Hybrid Structures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Volume II))
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22 pages, 3600 KiB  
Article
Crown Ether-Grafted Graphene Oxide-Based Materials—Synthesis, Characterization and Study of Lithium Adsorption from Complex Brine
by Ewa Knapik, Grzegorz Rotko, Marcin Piotrowski and Marta Marszałek
Materials 2024, 17(24), 6269; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17246269 - 22 Dec 2024
Viewed by 931
Abstract
Direct lithium extraction from unconventional resources requires the development of effective adsorbents. Crown ether-containing materials have been reported as promising structures in terms of lithium selectivity, but data on adsorption in real, highly saline brines are scarce. Crown ether-grafted graphene oxides were synthesized [...] Read more.
Direct lithium extraction from unconventional resources requires the development of effective adsorbents. Crown ether-containing materials have been reported as promising structures in terms of lithium selectivity, but data on adsorption in real, highly saline brines are scarce. Crown ether-grafted graphene oxides were synthesized using 2-hydroxymethyl-12-crown-4, hydroxy-dibenzo-14-crown-4 and epichlorohydrin as a source of anchoring groups. The obtained carbonaceous materials were used to prepare chitosan–polyvinyl alcohol composites. The prepared materials (and intermediate products) were characterized using FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDS methods. Adsorption tests were performed in a pure diluted LiCl solution ([Li] = 200 mg/kg) as well as in a real, highly saline oilfield brine ([Li] ≈ 220 mg/kg), and the distribution coefficients (Kd) were determined. The obtained results show that Kd in pure LiCl solution was in the range of 0.9–75.6, while in brine it was in the range of 0.2–2.3. The study indicates that the high affinity for lithium in pure LiCl solution is mostly associated with the non-selective interaction of lithium ions with the graphene oxide matrix (COOH groups). It was also shown that the application of dibenzo-14-crown-4 moiety to graphene oxide modification groups increases the affinity of the composite material for lithium ions compared to an analogous material containing 12-crown-4-ether groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene and Other 2D Layered Nanomaterials and Hybrid Structures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Volume II))
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11 pages, 3073 KiB  
Article
Using Cu2O/ZnO as Two-Dimensional Hole/Electron Transport Nanolayers in Unleaded FASnI3 Perovskite Solar Cells
by Masood Mehrabian, Maryam Taleb-Abbasi and Omid Akhavan
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051064 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1762
Abstract
A Pb-free FASnI3 perovskite solar cell improved by using Cu2O/ZnO as two-dimensional-based hole/electron transport nanolayers has been proposed and studied by using a SCAPS-1D solar simulator. To calibrate our study, at first, an FTO/ZnO/MAPbI3/Cu2O/Au multilayer device [...] Read more.
A Pb-free FASnI3 perovskite solar cell improved by using Cu2O/ZnO as two-dimensional-based hole/electron transport nanolayers has been proposed and studied by using a SCAPS-1D solar simulator. To calibrate our study, at first, an FTO/ZnO/MAPbI3/Cu2O/Au multilayer device was simulated, and the numerical results (including a conversion efficiency of 6.06%, an open circuit potential of 0.76 V, a fill factor parameter of 64.91%, and a short circuit electric current density of 12.26 mA/cm2) were compared with the experimental results in the literature. Then, the conversion efficiency of the proposed FASnI3-based solar cell was found to improve to 7.83%. The depth profile energy levels, charge carrier concentrations, recombination rate of electron/hole pair, and the FASnI3 thickness-dependent solar cell efficiency were studied and compared with the results obtained for the MAPbI3-containing device (as a benchmark). Interestingly, the FASnI3 material required to obtain an optimized solar cell is one-half of the material required for an optimized MAPbI3-based device, with a thickness of 200 nm. These results indicate that developing more environmentally friendly perovskite solar cells is possible if suitable electron/hole transport layers are selected along with the upcoming Pb-free perovskite absorber layers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene and Other 2D Layered Nanomaterials and Hybrid Structures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Volume II))
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8 pages, 2018 KiB  
Communication
STM Study of the Initial Stage of Gold Intercalation of Graphene on Ir(111)
by Vesna Mikšić Trontl, Ivan Jedovnicki and Petar Pervan
Materials 2023, 16(10), 3833; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16103833 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2279
Abstract
In this paper, we present a study of the sub-monolayer gold intercalation of graphene on Ir(111) using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). We found that Au islands grow following different kinetics than growth on Ir(111) without graphene. Graphene appears to increase the mobility of [...] Read more.
In this paper, we present a study of the sub-monolayer gold intercalation of graphene on Ir(111) using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). We found that Au islands grow following different kinetics than growth on Ir(111) without graphene. Graphene appears to increase the mobility of Au atoms by shifting the growth kinetics of Au islands from dendritic to a more compact shape. Graphene on top of intercalated gold exhibits a moiré superstructure, with parameters significantly different from graphene on Au(111) but almost identical to graphene on Ir(111). The intercalated Au monolayer shows a quasi-herringbone reconstruction with similar structural parameters as on Au(111). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene and Other 2D Layered Nanomaterials and Hybrid Structures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Volume II))
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19 pages, 4852 KiB  
Article
Combined DFT-D3 Computational and Experimental Studies on g-C3N4: New Insight into Structure, Optical, and Vibrational Properties
by Paolo Negro, Federico Cesano, Silvia Casassa and Domenica Scarano
Materials 2023, 16(10), 3644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16103644 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4227
Abstract
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has emerged as one of the most promising solar-light-activated polymeric metal-free semiconductor photocatalysts due to its thermal physicochemical stability but also its characteristics of environmentally friendly and sustainable material. Despite the challenging properties of g-C [...] Read more.
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has emerged as one of the most promising solar-light-activated polymeric metal-free semiconductor photocatalysts due to its thermal physicochemical stability but also its characteristics of environmentally friendly and sustainable material. Despite the challenging properties of g-C3N4, its photocatalytic performance is still limited by the low surface area, together with the fast charge recombination phenomena. Hence, many efforts have been focused on overcoming these drawbacks by controlling and improving the synthesis methods. With regard to this, many structures including strands of linearly condensed melamine monomers, which are interconnected by hydrogen bonds, or highly condensed systems, have been proposed. Nevertheless, complete and consistent knowledge of the pristine material has not yet been achieved. Thus, to shed light on the nature of polymerised carbon nitride structures, which are obtained from the well-known direct heating of melamine under mild conditions, we combined the results obtained from XRD analysis, SEM and AFM microscopies, and UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopies with the data from the Density Functional Theory method (DFT). An indirect band gap and the vibrational peaks have been calculated without uncertainty, thus highlighting a mixture of highly condensed g-C3N4 domains embedded in a less condensed “melon-like” framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene and Other 2D Layered Nanomaterials and Hybrid Structures: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (Volume II))
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