The interaction of Li+ with single-layer and few-layer graphene.

The interaction of Li(+) with single and few layer graphene is reported. In situ Raman spectra were collected during the electrochemical lithiation of the single- and few-layer graphene. While the interaction of lithium with few layer graphene seems to resemble that of graphite, single layer graphene behaves very differently. The amount of lithium absorbed on single layer graphene seems to be greatly reduced due to repulsion forces between Li(+) at both sides of the graphene layer.

The dependence of the electronic conductivity of carbon molecular sieve electrodes on their charging states.

The dependence of the electronic conductivity of activated carbon electrodes on their potential in electrolyte solutions was examined. Kapton polymer films underwent carbonization (1000 degrees C), followed by a mild oxidation process (CO(2) at 900 degrees C) for various periods of time, to obtain carbons of different pore structures. A specially designed cell was assembled in order to measure the conductivity of carbon electrodes at different potentials in solutions. When the carbon electrodes possessed molecular sieving properties, a remarkable dependence of their conductivity on their charging state was observed. Aqueous electrolyte solutions containing ions of different sizes were used in order to demonstrate this phenomenon. As the average pore size of the activated carbons was larger, their molecular sieving ability was lower, and the dependence of their conductivity on their charging state regained its classical form. This behavior is discussed herein.

Fluorographene: a wide bandgap semiconductor with ultraviolet luminescence.

The manipulation of the bandgap of graphene by various means has stirred great interest for potential applications. Here we show that treatment of graphene with xenon difluoride produces a partially fluorinated graphene (fluorographene) with covalent C-F bonding and local sp(3)-carbon hybridization. The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and near edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. These results confirm the structural features of the fluorographane with a bandgap of 3.8 eV, close to that calculated for fluorinated single layer graphene, (CF)(n). The material luminesces broadly in the UV and visible light regions, and has optical properties resembling diamond, with both excitonic and direct optical absorption and emission features. These results suggest the use of fluorographane as a new, readily prepared material for electronic, optoelectronic applications, and energy harvesting applications.

Enhanced anion electroadsorption into carbon molecular sieve electrodes in acidic media.

We previously showed that, for neutral electrolytes of small cations and relatively larger anions, it is possible to design certain pore sizes in active carbons that are large enough to electroadsorb cations but too small to allow anion electroadsorption. This situation leads to an electrical double-layer (EDL) capacitance that is significant only at potentials that are negative to the potential of zero charge (PZC); hence, much smaller capacitance is measured at potentials positive to the PZC. It was found that when the electrolyte is a strong acid (e.g., H(2)SO(4), HCl), a considerable capacitance is observed at positive potentials, even when the average pore size is too small to allow the insertion of large anions in neutral electrolyte solutions. This effect disappears when the pore size becomes considerably larger than the size of the ions. In this case, the EDL capacitance at positive potentials for both neutral and acidic solutions is comparable. The following four-step mechanism was found to comply best with the experimental data: (1) By acid catalysis, the protons form carbonium species within the conjugated carbon network. (2) The anions react with the carbonium ions, providing uncharged species in an activated state, which are chemibound as surface groups to the walls of the pores. (3) Because these surface groups are effectively much smaller in size than are the charged ions, they can migrate by chemical bond exchange within the carbon skeleton via constrictions (known to exist in microporous and molecular sieving carbons), which are too narrow to accommodate hydrated charged species. (4) Upon reaching wider spaces, the uncharged species are reionized and solvated by water molecules, which can fill small pores. The justification for the above mechanism is thoroughly discussed and demonstrated by the experimental results.