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Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 8166

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Guest Editor
College of Science, Liaoning Petrochemical University, Fushun, China
Interests: physical properties and property regulation of C-based nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbon has three hybrid states, sp3, sp2, and sp, and various carbon allotropes can be formed through different hybrid states. For example, diamond can be formed by sp3 hybridization, and carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphyne, and graphene can be formed by sp3 hybridization with sp2. In fact, due to the influence of quantum size effect, small structural differences create the performance difference of C-based materials. C nanotubes, zero-dimensional C quantum dots (graphene quantum dots), quasi-one-dimensional C nanoribbons (graphene nanoribbons, graphylene nanoribbons, and fullerene nanoribbons), two-dimensional C materials (graphene, graphylene, fullerene network structures, etc.), and their composite structures (heterostructures, Medical treatment, microelectronics, and other fields have broad application prospects.

In general, the atomic structure of carbon nanomaterials and the interfacial interactions with other phase materials have important effects on the properties of carbon nanomaterials. Therefore, designing and functionalizing carbon nanomaterials at the nanoscale has become a popular strategy for achieving the properties required for specific applications. In addition, functional carbon nanomaterials with nanoscale properties have different physical and chemical properties, including chemical stability, good thermal conductivity, good mechanical properties, superconductivity, and improved optical properties. The current focus is on their basic research, experimental and theoretical problems, and practical topics, such as synthesis, growth methods, preparation methods, property modification, property modeling, spectral simulation, device property changes, and the construction of practical devices.

This Special Issue will focus on the synthesis, purification, sorting, functionalization, characterization, chemical and physical properties, applications, theory, and modeling of novel carbon nanostructures such as graphene, graphene nanoribbons, two-dimensional heterostructures, fullerenes, fullerenes 2D network structures, and graphene. The issue is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of recent and upcoming advances in the field to help researchers quickly identify the relevant publications of their own research on carbon nanostructures.

Prof. Dr. Jingang Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • carbon-based nanomaterials
  • carbon-based structural materials
  • theoretical calculation
  • multifunctional composites
  • nanographene

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 11508 KiB  
Article
Laser Ignition of Potassium Picrate with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Additives
by Jianhua Wang, Jinjian Chen, Chen Shen, Yucun Liu, Junming Yuan and Yanwu Yu
Molecules 2025, 30(4), 935; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040935 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 514
Abstract
Experimental investigations of the diode-laser-induced ignition of potassium picrate (KP) with a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) additive are presented in this article. KP/MWNT composites with varying contents were prepared directly by adding different quantities of MWNTs to a KP solution after the last [...] Read more.
Experimental investigations of the diode-laser-induced ignition of potassium picrate (KP) with a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) additive are presented in this article. KP/MWNT composites with varying contents were prepared directly by adding different quantities of MWNTs to a KP solution after the last synthesis step. Due to capillary action, the MWNTs homogeneously coated the surface of the KP, and some KP crystallized inside the MWNTs. The samples were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis, and laser ignition tests. At a constant laser power density, the doped KP showed a much shorter ignition delay time than the undoped KP (from 28.8 ms to 4.5 ms). Therefore, the higher the dopant MWNT ratio is, the shorter the ignition delay time is. Additionally, the more MWNTs are used to dope KP, the lower the required ignition power is. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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17 pages, 3861 KiB  
Article
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Carbon Nanospheres and Their Application as Plugging Agents for Oil-Based Drilling Fluids
by Kaihe Lv, Haokun Shen, Yuan Geng, Mei-Chun Li, Hongyan Du, Xianbin Huang and Jinsheng Sun
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030463 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 753
Abstract
Wellbore instability caused by the invasion of drilling fluids into formations remains a significant challenge in the application of oil-based drilling fluids (ODFs). In this study, carbon nanospheres (CNSs) were synthesized using glucose as the carbon source through a microwave-assisted method. The effects [...] Read more.
Wellbore instability caused by the invasion of drilling fluids into formations remains a significant challenge in the application of oil-based drilling fluids (ODFs). In this study, carbon nanospheres (CNSs) were synthesized using glucose as the carbon source through a microwave-assisted method. The effects of the reaction temperature, carbon source concentration, and reaction time on the particle size of CNSs were systematically investigated. The results revealed that under optimal conditions, CNSs with an average particle size of 670 nm were successfully synthesized, exhibiting high sphericity and excellent dispersibility. CNSs demonstrated stable dispersion in mineral oil when lecithin was used as a dispersant. The plugging performance of CNSs in ODFs was evaluated through low-pressure filtration and high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) filtration tests. After aging at 180 °C for 16 h, the addition of 2% CNSs reduced the filtration volume from 10.6 mL to 2.5 mL on standard filter paper (average pore size: 3 μm) and from 8.5 mL to 1.6 mL on microporous membranes (average pore size: 0.5 μm). Additionally, the HTHP filtration volume decreased from 73 mL to 18 mL, and the permeability of the filter cake formed during HTHP filtration was reduced from 26.5 × 10−3 mD to 1.2 × 10−3 mD. Furthermore, CNSs improved the rheological properties and emulsion stability of ODFs. With excellent compatibility and applicability, CNSs offer a promising solution for enhancing the performance of oil-based drilling fluids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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22 pages, 9850 KiB  
Article
Optoelectronic Properties of Triply Twisted Möbius Carbon Nanobelt and the Design of Its Isomeric Nanomaterials
by Cailian Yao and Tao Wang
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4621; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194621 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 762
Abstract
The triply twisted Möbius carbon nanobelt (TMCNB) possesses an extremely distinctive geometric and electronic structure and therefore is anticipated to demonstrate outstanding optical properties. In this paper, through integrating quantum chemical calculations and wave function analysis approaches, in-depth studies are conducted on the [...] Read more.
The triply twisted Möbius carbon nanobelt (TMCNB) possesses an extremely distinctive geometric and electronic structure and therefore is anticipated to demonstrate outstanding optical properties. In this paper, through integrating quantum chemical calculations and wave function analysis approaches, in-depth studies are conducted on the one-photon absorption (OPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) characteristics, aromaticity, and circular dichroism of the TMCNB. Inspired by this structure, we further deform it to construct a novel structure, MCNB2, and verify the stability of this structure, thereby confirming its rationality. Since variations in structure will result in dissimilar optical properties, we also undertake theoretical analyses on the absorption properties and circular dichroism of MCNB2. The outcomes of this study offer a significant theoretical foundation for the design and construction of chiral optoelectronic materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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13 pages, 3980 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Carbon Nanotube Yarns via Infiltration Filling with Polyacrylonitrile in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
by Baihua Liu, Zhifeng Hu, Zeyu Sun and Muhuo Yu
Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3404; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143404 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1567
Abstract
Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers are renowned for their exceptional axial tensile strength and modulus. However, in yarn form, they frequently encounter transverse loading in practical applications, which exposes their suboptimal mechanical attributes rooted in inadequate inter-tube interactions and yarn surface defects. Efforts to [...] Read more.
Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers are renowned for their exceptional axial tensile strength and modulus. However, in yarn form, they frequently encounter transverse loading in practical applications, which exposes their suboptimal mechanical attributes rooted in inadequate inter-tube interactions and yarn surface defects. Efforts to mitigate micro-slippage among CNTs have encompassed gap-filling methodologies with varied materials, yet the outcomes have fallen short of expectations. This work aimed to enhance the mechanical properties of CNT yarns via infiltration with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) under supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) conditions. PAN was strategically chosen for its capability to undergo pre-oxidation and subsequent carbonization, leading to robust graphitic reinforcement. Leveraging sc-CO2’s swelling and high permeability properties, the infiltration process effectively plugged interstitial spaces, elevating the yarn’s tensile strength to 277.50 MPa and Young’s modulus to 5094.05 MPa. Additional enhancements were realized after pre-oxidation, conferring a dense, reinforced shell structure that augmented tensile strength by 96.93% and Young’s modulus by 298.80%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a homogeneous PAN distribution within the yarn matrix, corroborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidence of C-N bonding, indicative of a successfully interlaced network. Consequently, this investigation introduces a novel strategy to tackle micro-slippage in CNT yarns, thereby achieving substantial improvements in their mechanical resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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14 pages, 3203 KiB  
Article
One-Pot Synthesis of Alkyl Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites as the Lubrication Additive Enabling Enhanced Tribological Performance
by Guangfa Zhang, Chao Zhu, Yehai Yan, Jian Cui and Jingxian Jiang
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092004 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1157
Abstract
Recently, aiming for the enhanced dispersibility of graphene-based nanomaterials in lubricating oil matrices to serve as highly efficient lubricant additives, numerous modification approaches have been extensively studied. However, these previous modification routes usually involve a tedious multistep modification process or multitudinous toxic reagents, [...] Read more.
Recently, aiming for the enhanced dispersibility of graphene-based nanomaterials in lubricating oil matrices to serve as highly efficient lubricant additives, numerous modification approaches have been extensively studied. However, these previous modification routes usually involve a tedious multistep modification process or multitudinous toxic reagents, restricting their extensive practical application. In this work, novel graphene oxide (GO) nanoadditives (RGO-g-BO) featuring excellent durable dispersion capability and remarkable tribological performance were successfully prepared via an environmentally friendly one-step approach consisting of surface grafting of long-chain bromooctadecane (BO) and in situ chemical reduction. Benefiting from the greatly improved lipophilicity (resulting from the introduction of hydrophobic long-chain alkane groups and chemical reduction), along with the miniaturization effect, RGO-g-BO exhibits superior long-term dispersion stability in the finished oil. Moreover, the tribological properties results demonstrated that the finished oil filled with RGO-g-BO nanolubricants achieved an outstanding friction-reducing and antiwear performance. Particularly, under the optimum content of RGO-g-BO (as low as 0.005 wt%), the friction coefficient as well as the wear volume of the composite finished oil were greatly reduced by 13% and 53%, respectively, as compared with nascent finished oil. Therefore, in view of the advantages of low-cost, one-step facile synthesis, desirable dispersion capability, and remarkable tribological performance, RGO-g-BO holds great prospects as a highly efficient lubrication additive in the tribology field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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14 pages, 2213 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Support Effect of Graphdiyne Nanotubes with Abundant Cu Quantum Dots
by Yan Lv, Wenzhou Wang, Zhangwei Li and Fucang Liang
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061410 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1601
Abstract
Graphdiyne (GDY) is considered a very attractive support for metal nanocatalysts due to its unique structure and superior properties. The metal–GDY interaction can significantly affect the performance of catalysts. Herein, GDY nanotubes abundant in in situ formed Cu quantum dots (QDs) (Cu-GDYNT) are [...] Read more.
Graphdiyne (GDY) is considered a very attractive support for metal nanocatalysts due to its unique structure and superior properties. The metal–GDY interaction can significantly affect the performance of catalysts. Herein, GDY nanotubes abundant in in situ formed Cu quantum dots (QDs) (Cu-GDYNT) are prepared using the electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers collected on the surface of electrolytic Cu foil as templates. The diameter of the Cu-GDYNT is controllable and the uniform size of the embedded Cu QDs is about 2.2 nm. And then, the uniformly dispersed and highly active supported catalysts of ruthenium nanoparticles (Rux/Cu-GDYNT) are produced using the Cu-GDYNT as the support. Among them, the Ru3/Cu-GDYNT exhibit outstanding HER performance at all pH levels. Only 17, 67 and 83 mV overpotential is required to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M neutral PBS solutions, respectively. The sample exhibits 3000 CV cycle stability and 20 h continuous electrolysis without performance degradation in an alkaline medium. This work provides a new idea for constructing the GDY-supported metal nanocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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14 pages, 7420 KiB  
Article
The Physical Mechanism of Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Nanographene-Induced Chiral Inversion
by Zhiyuan Yang, Xinwen Gai, Yi Zou and Yongjian Jiang
Molecules 2024, 29(5), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29051053 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1229
Abstract
Based on density functional theory (DFT) and wave function analysis, the ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) spectra and Raman spectra of 1-meso and 1-rac obtained by the chiral separation of chiral nanographenes are theoretically investigated. The electron excitation properties of 1-meso and 1-rac [...] Read more.
Based on density functional theory (DFT) and wave function analysis, the ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) spectra and Raman spectra of 1-meso and 1-rac obtained by the chiral separation of chiral nanographenes are theoretically investigated. The electron excitation properties of 1-meso and 1-rac are studied by means of transition density matrix (TDM) and charge density difference (CDD) diagrams. The intermolecular interaction is discussed based on an independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH). The interaction of 1-meso and 1-rac with the external environment is studied using the electrostatic potential (ESP), and the electron delocalization degree of 1-meso and 1-rac is studied based on the magnetically induced current under the external magnetic field. Through the chiral separation of 1-rac, two enantiomers, 1-(P, P) and 1-(M, M), were obtained. The electrical–magnetic interaction of the molecule is revealed by analyzing the electron circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of 1-meso, 1-(P, P) and 1-(M, M), the transition electric dipole moment (TEDM) and the transition magnetic dipole moment (TMDM). It is found that 1-(P, P) and 1-(M, M) have opposite chiral properties due to the inversion of the structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Applications)
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