High Performance Na-O2 Batteries and Printed Microsupercapacitors Based on Water-Processable, Biomolecule-Assisted Anodic Graphene.

Integrated approaches that expedite the production and processing of graphene into useful structures and devices, particularly through simple and environmentally friendly strategies, are highly desirable in the efforts to implement this two-dimensional material in state-of-the-art electrochemical energy storage technologies. Here, we introduce natural nucleotides (e.g., adenosine monophosphate) as bifunctional agents for the electrochemical exfoliation and dispersion of graphene nanosheets in water. Acting both as exfoliating electrolytes and colloidal stabilizers, these biomolecules facilitated access to aqueous graphene bio-inks that could be readily processed into aerogels and inkjet-printed interdigitated patterns. Na-O2 batteries assembled with the graphene-derived aerogels as the cathode and a glyme-based electrolyte exhibited a full discharge capacity of ∼3.8 mAh cm-2 at a current density of 0.2 mA cm-2. Moreover, shallow cycling experiments (0.5 mAh cm-2) boasted a capacity retention of 94% after 50 cycles, which outperformed the cycle life of prior graphene-based cathodes for this type of battery. The positive effect of the nucleotide-adsorbed nanosheets on the battery performance is discussed and related to the presence of the phosphate group in these biomolecules. Microsupercapacitors made from the interdigitated graphene patterns as the electrodes also displayed a competitive performance, affording areal and volumetric energy densities of 0.03 µWh cm-2 and 1.2 mWh cm-3 at power densities of 0.003 mW cm-2 and 0.1 W cm-3, respectively. Taken together, by offering a green and straightforward route to different types of functional graphene-based materials, the present results are expected to ease the development of novel energy storage technologies that exploit the attractions of graphene.

Aqueous Cathodic Exfoliation Strategy toward Solution-Processable and Phase-Preserved MoS2 Nanosheets for Energy Storage and Catalytic Applications.

The production of MoS2 nanosheets by electrochemical exfoliation routes holds great promise as a means to access this two-dimensional material in large quantities for different practical applications. However, the use of electrolytes based on synthetic organic salts and solvents, as well as issues related to the unwanted oxidation and/or phase transformation of the exfoliated nanosheets, constitute significant obstacles that hinder the industrial adoption of the electrochemical approach. Here, we introduce a safe and sustainable method for the cathodic delamination of MoS2 that makes use of aqueous solutions of very simple and widely available salts, mainly KCl, as the electrolyte. Combined with an appropriate biomolecule-based solvent transfer protocol, such an electrolytic exfoliation route is shown to afford colloidally dispersed, oxide-free, and phase-preserved MoS2 nanosheets of high structural quality in considerable yields. The mechanisms behind the efficient aqueous delamination of the bulk MoS2 cathode are also discussed and rationalized on the basis of the penetration of hydrated cations from the electrolyte between its layers and the immediate reduction of the accompanying water molecules. An asymmetric supercapacitor assembled with a cathodic MoS2 nanosheet-single walled carbon nanotube hybrid as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode delivered energy densities (e.g., 26 W h kg-1 at 750 W kg-1 in 6 M KOH) that were competitive with those of other MoS2-based asymmetric devices. When used as a catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes, the present cathodically exfoliated nanosheets exhibited one of the highest activities reported so far with MoS2 nanostructures, the origin of which is accounted for as well. Overall, by facilitating access to this two-dimensional material through a particularly simple, efficient, and cost-effective technique, these results should expedite the practical implementation of MoS2 nanosheets in energy storage, catalysis, and beyond.

Aqueous Exfoliation of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Assisted by DNA/RNA Nucleotides: Catalytically Active and Biocompatible Nanosheets Stabilized by Acid-Base Interactions.

The exfoliation and colloidal stabilization of layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) in an aqueous medium using functional biomolecules as dispersing agents have a number of potential benefits toward the production and practical use of the corresponding two-dimensional materials, but such a strategy has so far remained underexplored. Here, we report that DNA and RNA nucleotides are highly efficient dispersants in the preparation of stable aqueous suspensions of MoS2 and other TMD nanosheets at significant concentrations (up to 5-10 mg mL-1). Unlike the case of common surfactants, for which adsorption on 2D materials is generally based on weak dispersive forces, the exceptional colloidal stability of the TMD flakes was shown to rely on the presence of relatively strong, specific interactions of Lewis acid-base type between the DNA/RNA nucleotide molecules and the flakes. Moreover, the nucleotide-stabilized MoS2 nanosheets were shown to be efficient catalysts in the reduction of nitroarenes (4-nitrophenol and 4-nitroaniline), thus constituting an attractive alternative to the use of expensive heterogeneous catalysts based on noble metals, and exhibited an electrocatalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction that was not impaired by the possible presence of nucleotide molecules adsorbed on their active sites. The biocompatibility of these materials was also demonstrated on the basis of cell proliferation and viability assays. Overall, the present work opens new vistas on the colloidal stabilization of 2D materials based on specific interactions that could be useful toward different practical applications.

Surface characteristics of activated carbons obtained by pyrolysis of plasma pretreated PET.

Activated carbon materials have been prepared by pyrolysis of plasma pretreated recycled PET. The obtained carbon materials have been texturally characterized by N2 (77 K) and CO2 (273 K) adsorption. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) have been used to analyze the surface of the treated precursors. Carbon materials obtained by He, N2, and CO2 plasma pretreatments (4 min) of the precursor and subsequent pyrolysis have shown a higher adsorption capacity than the corresponding chars (untreated pyrolised PET). This effect seems to be related to the elimination by the plasma treatments of low-molecular-weight products in the precursor, which are responsible for the formation of amorphous carbon deposits during the carbonization that blocks the porosity. Longer periods of treatment (15 min) do not favor the opening of the microporosity because cross-linking reactions in the precursor producing high molecular weight deposits prevail. The development of porosity is less relevant if oxygen plasma is used, as a considerable amount of oxygen functionalities are also formed. These groups can decompose during pyrolysation producing the above-mentioned amorphous carbon deposits. The textural characteristics of the carbon materials obtained after 4 min of plasma treatment on the precursor are very similar to those obtained after 4 h of CO2 (1073 K) activation of the same char. Therefore, this method can be an alternative to avoid the burnoff and high energy cost of the activation step.

Impact of Covalent Functionalization on the Aqueous Processability, Catalytic Activity, and Biocompatibility of Chemically Exfoliated MoS2 Nanosheets.

Chemically exfoliated MoS2 (ce-MoS2) has emerged in recent years as an attractive two-dimensional material for use in relevant technological applications, but fully exploiting its potential and versatility will most probably require the deployment of appropriate chemical modification strategies. Here, we demonstrate that extensive covalent functionalization of ce-MoS2 nanosheets with acetic acid groups (∼0.4 groups grafted per MoS2 unit) based on the organoiodide chemistry brings a number of benefits in terms of their processability and functionality. Specifically, the acetic acid-functionalized nanosheets were furnished with long-term (>6 months) colloidal stability in aqueous medium at relatively high concentrations, exhibited a markedly improved temporal retention of catalytic activity toward the reduction of nitroarenes, and could be more effectively coupled with silver nanoparticles to form hybrid nanostructures. Furthermore, in vitro cell proliferation tests carried out with murine fibroblasts suggested that the chemical derivatization had a positive effect on the biocompatibility of ce-MoS2. A hydrothermal annealing procedure was also implemented to promote the structural conversion of the functionalized nanosheets from the 1T phase that was induced during the chemical exfoliation step to the original 2H phase of the starting bulk material, while retaining at the same time the aqueous colloidal stability afforded by the presence of the acetic acid groups. Overall, by highlighting the benefits of this type of chemical derivatization, the present work should contribute to strengthen the position of ce-MoS2 as a two-dimensional material of significant practical utility.

From graphene oxide to pristine graphene: revealing the inner workings of the full structural restoration.

High temperature annealing is the only method known to date that allows the complete repair of a defective lattice of graphenes derived from graphite oxide, but most of the relevant aspects of such restoration processes are poorly understood. Here, we investigate both experimentally (scanning probe microscopy) and theoretically (molecular dynamics simulations) the thermal evolution of individual graphene oxide sheets, which is rationalized on the basis of the generation and the dynamics of atomic vacancies in the carbon lattice. For unreduced and mildly reduced graphene oxide sheets, the amount of generated vacancies was so large that they disintegrated at 1773-2073 K. By contrast, highly reduced sheets survived annealing and their structure could be completely restored at 2073 K. For the latter, a minor atomic-sized defect with six-fold symmetry was observed and ascribed to a stable cluster of nitrogen dopants. The thermal behavior of the sheets was significantly altered when they were supported on a vacancy-decorated graphite substrate, as well as for the overlapped/stacked sheets. In these cases, a net transfer of carbon atoms between neighboring sheets via atomic vacancies takes place, affording an additional healing process. Direct evidence of sheet coalescence with the step edge of the graphite substrate was also gathered from experiments and theory.

Carbon molecular sieves for air separation from Nomex aramid fibers.

Activated carbon fibers prepared from aramid fibers have proved to possess outstanding homogeneity in pore size, most of all when Nomex aramid fiber is used as precursor. Taking advantage of this feature, microporous carbon molecular sieves for air separation have been prepared through carbon vapor deposition of benzene on Nomex-derived carbon fibers activated to two different burnoff degrees. Carbon molecular sieves with good selectivity for this separation and showing acceptable adsorption capacities were obtained from ACFs activated to the two burnoff degrees chosen.

Adsorption of n-alkanes on plasma-oxidized high-strength carbon fibers.

The objective of this work was to characterize the degree of heterogeneity brought about by oxygen plasma treatment of carbon fibers by studying its effects on the adsorption of n-alkanes. Untreated and unsized high-strength carbon fibers were subjected to oxygen plasma treatments with different degrees of severity. A sample of the same material oxidized following a standard industrial method was also studied for comparison. Adsorption of C5-C10n-alkanes at 303-353 K was measured by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Elution peaks were symmetrical for the fresh and industrially oxidized samples; however, a large extent of asymmetry was observed for the plasma-treated fibers. Differences in surface heterogeneity were quantified in terms of several adsorption thermodynamic magnitudes. Differential heats of adsorption exhibited values similar to those corresponding to the probe-basal plane interaction. The dispersive component of the surface tension of the solids increased clearly upon plasma oxidation, the increase being systematic according to the severity of plasma treatment. It can be concluded that plasma oxidation generates high-surface-energy sites responsible for trapping of n-alkane molecules, this effect being more marked as the chain length increases. The possibility of this effect being associated to creation of micropores was ruled out on the basis of volumetric CO2 adsorption experiments and IGC measurements at finite dilution. Scanning tunneling microscopy observations allowed us to establish a possible connection between fiber surface nanostructure and IGC results. The sites accessible to n-alkane molecules in the industrially oxidized sample seem to be highly disordered, thus leading to a weaker interaction with the adsorbate.

Influence of porous texture and surface chemistry on the CO2 adsorption capacity of porous carbons: acidic and basic site interactions.

Doped porous carbons exhibiting highly developed porosity and rich surface chemistry have been prepared and subsequently applied to clarify the influence of both factors on carbon dioxide capture. Nanocasting was selected as synthetic route, in which a polyaramide precursor (3-aminobenzoic acid) was thermally polymerized inside the porosity of an SBA-15 template in the presence of different H3PO4 concentrations. The surface chemistry and the porous texture of the carbons could be easily modulated by varying the H3PO4 concentration and carbonization temperature. Porous texture was found to be the determinant factor on carbon dioxide adsorption at 0 °C, while surface chemistry played an important role at higher adsorption temperatures. We proved that nitrogen functionalities acted as basic sites and oxygen and phosphorus groups as acidic ones toward adsorption of CO2 molecules. Among the nitrogen functional groups, pyrrolic groups exhibited the highest influence, while the positive effect of pyridinic and quaternary functionalities was smaller. Finally, some of these N-doped carbons exhibit CO2 heats of adsorption higher than 42 kJ/mol, which make them excellent candidates for CO2 capture.

Chemically exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets as an efficient catalyst for reduction reactions in the aqueous phase.

Chemically exfoliated MoS2 (ce-MoS2) nanosheets that incorporate a large fraction of metallic 1T phase have been recently shown to possess a high electrocatalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction, but the potential of this two-dimensional material as a catalyst has otherwise remained mostly uncharted. Here, we demonstrate that ce-MoS2 nanosheets are efficient catalysts for a number of model reduction reactions (namely, those of 4-nitrophenol, 4-nitroaniline, methyl orange, and [Fe(CN)6](3-)) carried out in aqueous medium using NaBH4 as a reductant. The performance of the nanosheets in these reactions is found to be comparable to that of many noble metal-based catalysts. The possible reaction pathways involving ce-MoS2 as a catalyst are also discussed and investigated. Overall, the present results expand the scope of this two-dimensional material as a competitive, inexpensive, and earth-abundant catalyst.

Energy storage on ultrahigh surface area activated carbon fibers derived from PMIA.

High-performance carbon materials for energy storage applications have been obtained by using poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide), PMIA, as a precursor through the chemical activation of the carbonized aramid fiber by using KOH. The yield of the process of activation was remarkably high (25-40 wt%), resulting in activated carbon fibers (ACFs) with ultrahigh surface areas, over 3000 m(2) g(-1) , and pore volumes exceeding 1.50 cm(3) g(-1) , keeping intact the fibrous morphology. The porous structure and the surface chemical properties could easily be controlled through the conditions of activation. The PMIA-derived ACFs were tested in two types of energy storage applications. At -196 °C and 1 bar, H2 uptake values of approximately 3 t% were obtained, which, in combination with the textural properties, rendered it a good candidate for H2 adsorption at high pressure and temperature. The performance of the ACFs as electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors was also investigated. Specific capacitance values between 297 and 531 g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1) were obtained in aqueous electrolyte (1 H2 SO4 ), showing different behaviors depending on the surface chemical properties.

Activated carbon fibers with a high content of surface functional groups by phosphoric acid activation of PPTA.

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by chemical activation of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) with phosphoric acid, with a particular focus on the effects of impregnation ratio and carbonization temperature on both surface chemistry and porous texture. Thermogravimetric studies of the pyrolysis of PPTA impregnated with different amounts of phosphoric acid indicated that this reagent has a strong influence on the thermal degradation of the polymer, lowering the decomposition temperature and increasing the carbon yield. As concerns surface chemistry, TPD and chemical analysis results indicated that the addition of phosphoric acid increases the concentration of oxygenated surface groups, with a maximum at an impregnation ratio of 100 wt.%. The resulting materials present uncommon properties, namely a large amount of oxygen- and phosphorus-containing surface groups and a high nitrogen content. Porosity development following H(3)PO(4) activation was very significant, with values close to 1700 m(2)/g and 0.80 cm(3)/g being reached for the BET surface area and total pore volume, respectively. The pore size distributions remained confined to the micropore and narrow mesopore (<10 nm) range.