Synergistic graphenes: The chemical and electrical synergies between graphene derivatives enable a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for solution-phase processing of graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The new nanohybrid exhibits high performance when used as electrodes for supercapacitors (see figure; ER=electrochemically reduced, CCG=chemically converted graphene). Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as "Supporting Information". Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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Abstract Due to their extraordinary properties, boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) have great promise for many applications. However, the difficulty of their efficient preparation and their poor dispersibility in liquids are the current factors that limit this. A simple yet efficient sugar‐assisted mechanochemical exfoliation (SAMCE) method is developed here to simultaneously achieve their exfoliation and functionalization. This method has a high actual exfoliation yield of 87.3%, and the resultant BNNSs are covalently grafted with sugar (sucrose) molecules, and are well dispersed in both water and organic liquids. A new mechanical force–induced exfoliation and chemical grafting mechanism is proposed based on experimental and density functional theory investigations. Thanks to the good dispersibility of the nanosheets, flexible and transparent BNNS/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite films with multifunctionality is fabricated. Compared to pure PVA films, the composite films have a remarkably improved tensile strength and thermal dissipation capability. Noteworthy, they are flame retardant and can effectively block light from the deep blue to the UV region. This SAMCE production method has proven to be highly efficient, green, low cost, and scalable, and is extended to the exfoliation and functionalization of other two‐dimensional (2D) materials including MoS 2 , WS 2 , and graphite.
Graphene exhibits a range of exceptional physical properties and holds great promise for development of novel bulk materials for widespread applications. Properly engineering of assembled structures of graphene at multiple length scales is essential to realize its full potential in bulk forms. In this Concept article, we highlight the unique colloidal and gelation behavior of a commonly used precursor for graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and discuss how the colloidal chemistry of GO and reduced GO can enable new scalable and cost-effective approaches to construct graphene-based soft superstructures with excellent properties.
A new MnO2@Co3O4 hybrid with small-sized Co3O4 nanoparticles grown on α-MnO2 nanotubes exhibited much improved capacitive performances than those of pristine α-MnO2 nanotubes and a physical mixture of α-MnO2 nanotubes and Co3O4 nanoparticles.
We report a flexible method to functionalize highly transparent graphene oxide (GO) film with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Nonlinear absorption and refraction of the hybrid films are measured, which are strongly enhanced and tunable by different AuNP concentrations compared to both GO and AuNP-only samples. The enhanced nonlinearity is due to the effective functionalization of the hybrid films, which is verified by the ultraviolet-visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectra. Our low-loss hybrid GO-AuNP films provide a solid-state material platform for diverse nonlinear applications. The functionalizing method can serve as a universal strategy to manipulate the physical properties of hybrid GO.
Graphene exhibits a range of exceptional physical properties and holds great promise for development of novel bulk materials for widespread applications. The precise engineering of graphene structures of varying dimensions is critical to unlocking the full potential of the astounding properties of the material. Here, the unique colloidal and gelation behavior of a commonly used precursor for graphene, graphene oxide (GO), is discussed; as well as how the colloidal chemistry of GO and reduced GO can enable new scalable and cost-effective approaches to construct graphene-based soft superstructures with excellent properties. For more information see the Concept article by S. V. Petersen, L. Qiu and D. Li on page 13264 ff.
The addition of a small amount of graphene oxide into a traditional colloidal silica-based shear thickening fluid (STF) can lead to a significant change in viscosity, critical shear rate, storage modulus, and loss modulus of STF. This finding provides an effective way to prepare stronger and light-weight STFs.