Graphene oxide as a high-performance fluid-loss-control additive in water-based drilling fluids

Graphene oxide (GO) performs well as a filtration additive in water-based drilling fluids at concentrations as low as 0.2 % (w/w) by carbon content. Standard American Petroleum Institute (API) filtration tests were conducted on pH-adjusted, aqueous dispersions of GO and xanthan gum. It was found that a combination of large-flake GO and powdered GO in a 3:1 ratio performed best in the API tests, allowing an average fluid loss of 6.1 mL over 30 min and leaving a filter cake ~20 μm thick. In comparison, a standard suspension (~12 g/L) of clays and polymers used in the oil industry gave an average fluid loss of 7.2 mL and a filter cake ~280 μm thick. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the extreme pliability of well-exfoliated GO, as the pressure due to filtration crumpled single GO sheets, forcing them to slide through pores with diameters much smaller than the flake's flattened size. GO solutions also exhibited greater shear thinning and higher temperature stability compared to clay-based fluid-loss additives, demonstrating potential for high-temperature well applications.     

氧化石墨烯及其复合材料对水中放射性核素的吸附

在核能和核技术的快速发展过程及应用中产生了大量放射性废水,其对生态环境会造成潜在的污染,因此对放射性废水处理技术的研究对保护环境有着重要的意义。氧化石墨烯及其复合材料具有比表面积高、官能团丰富、吸附能力强、化学稳定性好等优点,在放射性废水处理领域受到广泛关注。本文综述了近年来有关氧化石墨烯及其复合材料对水中放射性核素吸附的研究现状及进展,介绍了氧化石墨烯及其复合材料对放射性核素的吸附容量、吸附等温模型、吸附热力学、影响因素和吸附机理。最后分析了氧化石墨烯及其复合材料处理放射性核素在辐射稳定性和高吸附选择性等方面面临的问题和挑战,探讨了推动该类材料今后实际放射性废水处理中工程应用的重点研究方向,如完善的产业体系和积极研发相匹配的成套水处理工艺及设备等。     

盐酸阿霉素在纳米载体氧化石墨烯上的可控负载与释放

采用改性Hummers法制备了氧化石墨烯,并探索了其在生物医学方面作为纳米药物载体的应用。通过超声、振荡等方法制备了氧化石墨烯-盐酸阿霉素(GO-DXR),采用高分辨透射电镜(HRTEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、紫外-可见分光光谱(UV-Vis)等测试方法对GO负载DXR前后的形貌和结构进行了研究。DXR在GO上的负载量高达4.6mg/mg,DXR的释放量可通过pH值控制,说明GO与DXR之间依靠氢键作用结合。     

Graphene oxide used as a carrier for adriamycin can reverse drug resistance in breast cancer cells

This study evaluates the reversal effects of graphene oxide (GO) used as a carrier for adriamycin (ADR) in cancer drug resistance, and provides a preliminary investigation into the reversal mechanism. ADR was loaded onto the GO surface (ADR-GO) by physical mixing and drug loading content was found to be high, up to 93.6%. In vitro releases of ADR from ADR-GO were studied using a dialysis method, and they exhibited a significant pH-sensitive property. Cell experiments showed that GO significantly enhanced the accumulation of ADR in MCF-7/ADR cells (an ADR resistant breast cancer cell line) and exhibited much higher cytotoxicity than free ADR, suggesting that ADR-GO could effectively reverse ADR resistance of MCF-7/ADR, with the reversal index reaching 8.35. Microscopy studies found that GO could effectively carry drug molecules into cells in both endocytosis-dependent and independent manners. In conclusion, use of GO as a carrier for chemotherapeutic agents is favorable for the treatment of drug resistant cancers.     

'Click' preparation of CuPt nanorod-anchored graphene oxide as a catalyst in water

In this paper, a simple and powerful method of producing nanoparticle-anchored graphene oxide (GO) composites using a 'click' reaction is demonstrated. This method affords a facile means of anchoring of nanoparticles with various shapes and sizes on the GO. CuPt nanorods with controlled size, aspect ratio (from 1 to 11), and uniformity are synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements are made to monitor the formation and characterize the properties of the CuPt nanorod-grafted GO composites. Their catalytic properties in the water phase are investigated using an o-phenylenediamine oxidation reaction. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that nonpolar CuPt nanorods immobilized on GO can function as a catalyst in an aqueous solution and that GO can be used as a catalytic nanorod support.     

Mn-Ce oxide as a high-capacity adsorbent for fluoride removal from water

A novel Mn-Ce oxide adsorbent with high sorption capacity for fluoride was prepared via co-precipitation method in this study, and the granular adsorbent was successfully prepared by calcining the mixture of the Mn-Ce powder and pseudo-boehmite. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed that the Mn-Ce adsorbent consisted of about 4.5 nm crystals, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the formation of solid solution by Mn species entering CeO(2) lattices. The surface hydroxyl group density on the Mn-Ce adsorbent was determined to be as high as 15.3 mmol g(-1), mainly responsible for its high sorption capacity for fluoride. Sorption isotherms showed that the sorption capacities of fluoride on the powdered and granular adsorbent were 79.5 and 45.5 mg g(-1) respectively at the equilibrium fluoride concentration of 1 mg L(-1), much higher than all reported adsorbents. Additionally, the adsorption was fast within the initial 1 h. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the hydroxyl groups on the adsorbent surface were involved in the sorption of fluoride. Both anion exchange and electrostatic interaction were involved in the sorption of fluoride on the Mn-Ce oxide adsorbent.     

Graphene oxide as an antimicrobial agent can extend the vase life of cut flowers

Nano Research - “PlantNanOmics” is an emerging topic in agricultural research that explores the potential effect of application of nanomaterials on plant growth. Graphene oxide (GO) has...     

Graphene oxide and hydroxyapatite as fillers of polylactic acid nanocomposites: preparation and characterization

Graphene and its derivatives have attracted great research interest for their potential applications in electronics, energy, materials and biomedical areas. When incorporated appropriately, these atomically thin carbon sheets are expected to improve physical properties of host polymers at extremely small loading. Herein, we report a novel two-step method for the preparation of PLLA/Hap/graphene oxide nanocomposites with augmented mechanical properties when compared to PLLA/Hap and neat PLLA. The presence of graphene oxide (GO) had a positive effect on the dispersion of hydroxyapatite particles on the polymeric matrix contributing for a good homogeneity of the final nanocomposite. PLLA nanocomposites prepared with 30% (w/w) of Hap and 1% (w/w) of GO showed the highest hardness and storage modulus values indicating an efficient load transfer between the fillers and the PLLA matrix. These materials may find interesting biomedical applications as for example bone screws. The following step on the study of these materials will be in vitro tests to access the biocompatibility of these new nanocomposites.     

Graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol aerogel reinforced with grape seed extracts as wound dressing

Journal of Materials Science - In this study, graphene oxide (GO) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) composite aerogels were developed by non-covalent interactions, and then, grape seed extracts (Ex),...     

Graphene oxide on the surface of basalt fiber

This paper describes possible procedures for immobilizing two-dimensional graphene oxide flakes on the cylindrical surface of basalt fibers. The samples thus obtained have been characterized by analysis for C, H, and N; X-ray diffraction; scanning electron microscopy; Raman spectroscopy; and atomic force microscopy.     

Graphene layers from reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) of approximately 1 nm was generated from exfoliated graphitic oxide using a modified Hummers method through ultrasonic treatment in water, and the GO film was reduced under protection of Ar/H2 flow at 800 degrees C. Moreover, the obtained graphene film has a high conductivity of 383 S/cm at 10-20 nm thickness.     

Graphene oxide (GO) doped CeO2 as potential enhancer of methyl orange degradation

In this article, a simple method for the synthesis of Graphene Oxide-Cerium oxide (GO/CeO₂) is carried out. The prepared sample was characterized in detail, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technology N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis (BET), photoluminescence (PL) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It was indicated that GO was successfully incorporated into CeO₂. The photocatalytic mechanism of GO/CeO₂ was also explained. The MO solution catalyzed by CeO₂ and GO/CeO₂ was analyzed by a UV-visible spectrometer. The efficiency of GO/CeO₂ degrading methyl orange (MO) is improved from 50% to 87% compared to pure CeO₂ under the visible light. GO/CeO₂ exhibited better photocatalytic performance than CeO₂, which indicated GO doping improved the photocatalytic capacity of the CeO₂ catalyst. It may have potential applications in addressing environmental wastewater.     

Graphene oxide reinforced polyimide nanocomposites via in situ polymerization

Graphene oxide (GO) reinforced polyimide nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ polymerization of monomers in the presence of GO sheets dispersed in N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl, epoxide, and carboxyl groups) associated with the GO make GO excellent dispersion in the organic solvent, which benefits the subsequent in situ polymerization. This process enabled uniform dispersion of GO sheets in the polymer matrix. The resultant GO-polyimide nanocomposite films were studied by tensile test, TGA and SEM. The results showed that the GO sheets incorporated in the polymer matrix exhibited a layer-aligned structure without destruction of the thermal stability of the polymer matrix, and a loading of GO (10 wt%) resulted in a significant enhancement in elastic modulus (86.4%).     

Graphene transistor as a probe for streaming potential

We explore the dependence of electrical transport in a graphene field effect transistor (GraFET) on the flow of water/sodium chloride electrolyte within the immediate vicinity of that transistor. We find large and reproducible shifts in the charge neutrality point of GraFETs that are dependent on the liquid velocity and the ion concentration. We show that these shifts are consistent with the variation of the local electrochemical potential of the liquid next to graphene that are caused by the fluid flow (streaming potential). Furthermore, we utilize the sensitivity of electrical transport in GraFETs to the parameters of the fluid flow to demonstrate graphene-based mass flow and ionic concentration sensing. We successfully detect a flow as small as ～70 nL/min and detect a change in the ionic concentration as small as ～40 nM.     

Graphene nanoring as a tunable source of polarized electrons

We propose a novel spin filter based on a graphene nanoring fabricated above a ferromagnetic strip. The exchange interaction between the magnetic moments of the ions in the ferromagnet and the electron spin splits the electronic states, and gives rise to spin polarization of the conductance and the total electric current. We demonstrate that both the current and its polarization can be controlled by a side-gate voltage. This opens the possibility to use the proposed device as a tunable source of polarized electrons.     

Graphene oxide: the mechanisms of oxidation and exfoliation

Graphene oxides (GOs) with large sheets and more perfect aromatic structure were prepared by a novel modified Hummers method. We demonstrated that the graphite did not need to be oxidized to such a deep degree as described in Hummers method because the space distance increased little when the oxidation proceeded to a certain extent and the obtained graphite oxides (GTOs) could be fully exfoliated to single layers with high thermal stability. The oxidation mechanism and chemical structure model of GO were proposed by analyzing the evolution of the functional groups with oxidation proceeded based on thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The layer spacing calculated by molecular dynamics simulations coincided with the X-ray diffraction results. Furthermore, the size distribution and thickness of GOs were also studied. The results confirmed that the GOs prepared by the modified method were fully exfoliated to uniform single layers, and this method may be important for efficient exfoliation of GTO to GO and large-scale production of graphene.