Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (3 December 2021) | Viewed by 25314

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, and Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Interests: His research interests cover physical-chemical properties and reactivity of graphene derivatives and 2D materials (2D chemistry) and applications of graphene derivatives and composites in energy storage, sensing and catalysis. His specialization includes also molecular dynamics of biomolecules and complex molecular systems, force field development, multiscale methods and their applications in biomolecular and nanomaterial research.

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Guest Editor
School of Chemistry, Aristolte University of Thessanoliniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: physicochemical properties of nanostructured materials; photo-, sono-, thermo- and electromagnetic catalysis; mechanochemistry; sonophotochemistry; interfacial phenomena in catalysis; detoxification of toxic vapors; biomass valorization; selective oxidation processes; air and water remediation; materials chemistry; MOFs and metal-oxide nanocomposites; activated carbons; graphite/graphite oxide; graphitic carbon nitride polymers; semiconductor nanocatalysts; carbon quantum dots
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Guest Editor
Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Palacký University, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Interests: chemistry and properties of carbon nanomaterials (graphene and derivatives; carbon nanotubes; carbon dots); bottom up synthesis of hybrid (organic/inorganic) nanocolloids; application of the above nanomaterials in energy storage; environmental remediation; catalysis and drug delivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the discovery in 2004 of the groundbreaking properties of graphene, a truly one-atom-thick two‑dimensional crystal of conjugated carbons arranged in a honeycomb lattice, there has been intense and growing research interest due to the potential of its utilization in high technological-impact applications. Due to its remarkable electrical and thermal conductivity, transparency to light, and mechanical flexibility and strength, graphene-related materials (GRms) have evolved as attractive and efficient candidates for a wide range of advanced applications, from spintronics, electronics, and sensing, to energy storage, metal-free (electro)catalysis, and environmental remediation. The potential to undergo a plethora of controllable chemical modifications/functionalizations, such as oxidation or fluorination towards graphene oxide or fluorographene, or doping with diverse atoms and other phases, can lead to desirable tweaking of the physical, chemical, magnetic, and/or optoelectronic features, tailored for the targeted application. Furthermore, the use of graphene-based materials is considered as a green-oriented approach, and various GRms have already appeared in the market. Going a step ahead, GRms can be utilized as fillers/additives or as substrates for various substances, ranging from quantum dots to biomolecules, towards the synthesis of composites or hybrids. This approach can lead to unique synergistic properties of the derived new materials.

The main aim of this Special Issue “Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications” is to collect selected original and innovative articles presenting the very recent trends and advances on the design, synthesis, modifications, characterization, and applications of graphene-based materials and their composites. The field of the applications of these materials is not limited, although the foremost interest is within the areas of energy storage and conversion, electronics, medicine, adsorption, catalysis, sensing, and structural composites. Environmentally friendly and sustainable applications are also of a great interest. We welcome submissions of original research papers, communications, or reviews.

Prof. Dr. Michal Otyepka
Dr. Dimitrios A. Giannakoudakis
Dr. Aristeidis Bakandritsos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • graphene
  • functionalization of graphene
  • graphene oxide
  • graphene-based composites
  • energy storage and conversion
  • electronics
  • catalysis
  • sensing
  • environmental remediation

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 180 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue on “Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications”
by Michal Otyepka, Dimitrios A. Giannakoudakis and Aristides Bakandritsos
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(16), 2740; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12162740 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
Since the groundbreaking discovery of graphene by Geim and Novoselov in 2004, there has been continuous research focused on the utilization of graphene (GR) and graphene-related materials (GRms) in technologically high-impact applications, spanning from electronics, sensing, and spintronics, to catalysis, energy storage, and [...] Read more.
Since the groundbreaking discovery of graphene by Geim and Novoselov in 2004, there has been continuous research focused on the utilization of graphene (GR) and graphene-related materials (GRms) in technologically high-impact applications, spanning from electronics, sensing, and spintronics, to catalysis, energy storage, and environmental remediation [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

19 pages, 7197 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Integration of Functionalized N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co Nanocomposites as Synergistic Oxygen Electrocatalysts in Fuel Cells
by Muhammad Arif, Salma Bilal and Anwar ul Haq Ali Shah
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(4), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12040585 - 9 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2214
Abstract
Fabrication of composites by developing simple techniques can be an efficient way to modify the desire properties of the materials. This paper presents a detailed study on synthesis of low cost and efficient nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide nickle-silver (N-rGO-Ni/Ag) and nickel-cobalt (N-rGO-Ni/Co) [...] Read more.
Fabrication of composites by developing simple techniques can be an efficient way to modify the desire properties of the materials. This paper presents a detailed study on synthesis of low cost and efficient nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide nickle-silver (N-rGO-Ni/Ag) and nickel-cobalt (N-rGO-Ni/Co) nanocomposites as electrocatalysts in fuel cell using one-pot blended reflux condensation route. An admirable correlation in the structures and properties of the synthesized nanocomposites was observed. The Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) values for N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co calculated from the onset potential, using Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV), were found to be 1.096 and 1.146. While the half wave potential were determined to be 1.046 and 1.106, respectively, N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co. The Tafel and bi-functional (ORR/OER) values were calculated as 76 and 35 mV/decade and 1.23 and 1.12 V, respectively, for N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co. The lower onset and half wave potential, low charge transfer resistance (Rct = 1.20 Ω/cm2) and internal solution resistance (Rs = 8.84 × 10−1 Ω/cm2), lower Tafel values (35 mV), satisfactory LSV measurements and mass activity (24.5 at 1.056 V for ORR and 54.9 at 1.056 for OER) demonstrate the remarkable electrocatalytic activity of N-rGO-Ni/Co for both ORR and OER. The chronamperometric stability for synthesized nanocomposites was found satisfactory up to 10 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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9 pages, 1899 KiB  
Article
Ultrasonic-Assisted Diels–Alder Reaction Exfoliation of Graphite into Graphene with High Resveratrol Adsorption Capacity
by Jinxing Zhang, Qi Ouyang, Qilin Gui and Xiaonong Chen
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 3060; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11113060 - 14 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Scalable preparation of graphene with high adsorption capacity is an important prerequisite for fully realizing its commercial application. Herein, we propose an environmentally friendly route for exfoliation of graphene, which is established based on the Diels–Alder reaction. In our route, N-(4-hydroxyl phenyl) [...] Read more.
Scalable preparation of graphene with high adsorption capacity is an important prerequisite for fully realizing its commercial application. Herein, we propose an environmentally friendly route for exfoliation of graphene, which is established based on the Diels–Alder reaction. In our route, N-(4-hydroxyl phenyl) maleimide enters between the flakes as an intercalating agent and participates in the Diels–Alder reaction as a dienophile to increase the interlayer spacing of graphite. Then, graphite is exfoliated into graphene with the aid of ultrasound. The exfoliated product is hydroxyl phenyl functionalized graphene with a thickness of 0.5–1.5 nm and an average lateral size of about 500–800 nm. The exfoliation process does not involve any acid or catalyst and would be a safe and environmentally friendly approach. In addition, the exfoliated graphite shows high resveratrol adsorption capacity, which is ten times that of macroporous resins reported in the literature. Thus, the method proposed herein yields exfoliated graphite with high resveratrol adsorption capacity and is of great significance for the mass production of graphene for practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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13 pages, 3862 KiB  
Article
Flax-Derived Carbon: A Highly Durable Electrode Material for Electrochemical Double-Layer Supercapacitors
by Petr Jakubec, Stanislav Bartusek, Josef Jan Dvořáček, Veronika Šedajová, Vojtěch Kupka and Michal Otyepka
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2229; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092229 - 29 Aug 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2984
Abstract
Owing to their low cost, good performance, and high lifetime stability, activated carbons (ACs) with a large surface area rank among the most popular materials deployed in commercially available electrochemical double-layer (EDLC) capacitors. Here, we report a simple two-step synthetic procedure for the [...] Read more.
Owing to their low cost, good performance, and high lifetime stability, activated carbons (ACs) with a large surface area rank among the most popular materials deployed in commercially available electrochemical double-layer (EDLC) capacitors. Here, we report a simple two-step synthetic procedure for the preparation of activated carbon from natural flax. Such ACs possess a very high specific surface area (1649 m2 g–1) accompanied by a microporous structure with the size of pores below 2 nm. These features are behind the extraordinary electrochemical performance of flax-derived ACs in terms of their high values of specific capacitance (500 F g–1 at a current density of 0.25 A g–1 in the three-electrode setup and 189 F g–1 at a current density of 0.5 A g–1 in two-electrode setup.), high-rate stability, and outstanding lifetime capability (85% retention after 150,000 charging/discharging cycles recorded at the high current density of 5 A g–1). These findings demonstrate that flax-based ACs have more than competitive potential compared to standard and commercially available activated carbons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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14 pages, 4011 KiB  
Article
New Limits for Stability of Supercapacitor Electrode Material Based on Graphene Derivative
by Veronika Šedajová, Petr Jakubec, Aristides Bakandritsos, Václav Ranc and Michal Otyepka
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(9), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10091731 - 31 Aug 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3808
Abstract
Supercapacitors offer a promising alternative to batteries, especially due to their excellent power density and fast charging rate capability. However, the cycling stability and material synthesis reproducibility need to be significantly improved to enhance the reliability and durability of supercapacitors in practical applications. [...] Read more.
Supercapacitors offer a promising alternative to batteries, especially due to their excellent power density and fast charging rate capability. However, the cycling stability and material synthesis reproducibility need to be significantly improved to enhance the reliability and durability of supercapacitors in practical applications. Graphene acid (GA) is a conductive graphene derivative dispersible in water that can be prepared on a large scale from fluorographene. Here, we report a synthesis protocol with high reproducibility for preparing GA. The charging/discharging rate stability and cycling stability of GA were tested in a two-electrode cell with a sulfuric acid electrolyte. The rate stability test revealed that GA could be repeatedly measured at current densities ranging from 1 to 20 A g−1 without any capacitance loss. The cycling stability experiment showed that even after 60,000 cycles, the material kept 95.3% of its specific capacitance at a high current density of 3 A g−1. The findings suggested that covalent graphene derivatives are lightweight electrode materials suitable for developing supercapacitors with extremely high durability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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13 pages, 6121 KiB  
Article
Rapid Carbon Formation from Spontaneous Reaction of Ferrocene and Liquid Bromine at Ambient Conditions
by Nikolaos Chalmpes, Iosif Tantis, Aristides Bakandritsos, Athanasios B. Bourlinos, Michael A. Karakassides and Dimitrios Gournis
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(8), 1564; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081564 - 9 Aug 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3523
Abstract
Herein, we present an interesting route to carbon derived from ferrocene without pyrolysis. Specifically, the direct contact of the metallocene with liquid bromine at ambient conditions released rapidly and spontaneously carbon soot, the latter containing dense spheres, nanosheets, and hollow spheres. The derived [...] Read more.
Herein, we present an interesting route to carbon derived from ferrocene without pyrolysis. Specifically, the direct contact of the metallocene with liquid bromine at ambient conditions released rapidly and spontaneously carbon soot, the latter containing dense spheres, nanosheets, and hollow spheres. The derived carbon carried surface C-Br bonds that permitted postfunctionalization of the solid through nucleophilic substitution. For instance, treatment with diglycolamine led to covalent attachment of the amine onto the carbon surface, thus conferring aqueous dispersability to t he solid. The dispersed solid exhibited visible photoluminescence under UV irradiation as a result of surface passivation by the amine. Hence, the present method not only allowed a rapid and spontaneous carbon formation at ambient conditions, but also surface engineering of the particles to impart new properties (e.g., photoluminescence). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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14 pages, 5337 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Character of Cationic Polymers Attached to Carbon-Based Nanomaterials
by Daniela Plachá, Alexandra Muñoz-Bonilla, Kateřina Škrlová, Coro Echeverria, Alberto Chiloeches, Martin Petr, Khalid Lafdi and Marta Fernández-García
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(6), 1218; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10061218 - 22 Jun 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3299
Abstract
The preparation of hybrid polymeric systems based on carbon derivatives with a cationic polymer is described. The polymer used is a copolymer of a quaternizable methacrylic monomer with another dopamine-based monomer capable of anchoring to carbon compounds. Graphene oxide and graphene as well [...] Read more.
The preparation of hybrid polymeric systems based on carbon derivatives with a cationic polymer is described. The polymer used is a copolymer of a quaternizable methacrylic monomer with another dopamine-based monomer capable of anchoring to carbon compounds. Graphene oxide and graphene as well as hybrid polymeric systems were widely characterized by infrared, Raman and photoemission X-ray spectroscopies, electron scanning microscopy, zeta potential and thermal degradation. These allowed confirming the attachment of copolymer onto carbonaceous materials. Besides, the antimicrobial activity of hybrid polymeric systems was tested against Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and Gram negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The results showed the antibacterial character of these hybrid systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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12 pages, 3925 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Active Graphene with Para-Ester on Cotton Fabrics for Antistatic Properties
by Mengting Su, Xiaoting Chen, Liyuan Zhang and Jie Min
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(6), 1147; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10061147 - 11 Jun 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3474
Abstract
The excellent electrical properties of graphene provide a new functional finishing idea for fabricating conductive cotton fabrics with antistatic properties. This work develops a novel method for synthesizing active graphene to make cotton fabrics conductive and to have antistatic properties. The graphite was [...] Read more.
The excellent electrical properties of graphene provide a new functional finishing idea for fabricating conductive cotton fabrics with antistatic properties. This work develops a novel method for synthesizing active graphene to make cotton fabrics conductive and to have antistatic properties. The graphite was oxidized to graphene oxide (GO) by the Hummers method, and was further acid chlorinated and reacted with the para-ester to form the active graphene (JZGO). JZGO was then applied to cotton fabrics and was bonded to the fiber surface under alkaline conditions. Characterizations were done using FT-IR, XRD and Raman spectroscopy, which indicated that the para-ester group was successfully introduced onto JZGO, which also effectively improved the water dispersibility and reactivity of the JZGO. Furthermore, this study found that the antistatic properties of the fabric were increased by more than 50% when JZGO was 3% by weight under low-humidity conditions. The washing durability of the fabrics was also evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Related Materials: Synthesis and Applications)
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