Designed fabrication of hierarchical porous carbon nanotubes/graphene/carbon nanofibers composites with enhanced capacitive desalination properties

Carbonaceous materials, one of the most important electrode materials for sea water desalination, have attracted tremendous attention. Herein, we develop a facile and effective two-step strategy to fabricate hierarchical porous carbon nanotubes/graphene/carbon nanofibers (CNTs/G/CNFs) composites for capacitive desalination application. Graphite oxide (GO), Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺ are introduced into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers by electrospinning method. During the annealing process, the PAN nanofibers are carbonized into CNFs felt, while the CNTs grow in situ on the surface of CNFs and graphite oxide are reduced into graphene simultaneously. Benefiting from the unique hierarchical porous structure, the as-prepared CNTs/G/CNFs composites have a large specific surface area of 223.9 m² g^?1 and excellent electrical conductivity. The maximum salt capacity of the composites can reach to 36.0 mg g^?1, and the adsorbing capability maintains a large retention of 96.9% after five cycles. Moreover, the effective deionization time of the CNTs/G/CNFs composites lasts more than 30 min, much better than the commercial carbon fibers (C-CFs) and graphene/carbon nanofibers (G/CNFs) composites. Results suggest that the designed hierarchical porous CNTs/G/CNFs architecture could enhance the capacitive desalination properties of electrode materials. And the possible adsorption mechanism of the novel electrode materials is proposed as well.     

Effect of a multiscale reinforcement by carbon fiber surface treatment with graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of reinforced carbon/carbon composites

An effective carbon fiber/graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes (CF-GO-CNTs) multiscale reinforcement was prepared by co-grafting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) onto the carbon fiber surface. The effects of surface modification on the properties of carbon fiber (CF) and the resulting composites was investigated systematically. The GO and CNTs were chemically grafted on the carbon fiber surface as a uniform coating, which could significantly increase the polar functional groups and surface energy of carbon fiber. In addition, the GO and CNTs co-grafted on the carbon fiber surface could improve interlaminar shear strength of the resulting composites by 48.12% and the interfacial shear strength of the resulting composites by 83.39%. The presence of GO and CNTs could significantly enhance both the area and wettability of fiber surface, leading to great increase in the mechanical properties of GO/CNTs/carbon fiber reinforced composites.     

Atomic force microscopy based tunable local anodic oxidation of graphene

We have fabricated graphene/graphene oxide/graphene (G/GO/G) junctions by local anodic oxidation lithography using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The conductance of the G/GO/G junction decreased with the bias voltage applied to the AFM cantilever V(tip). For G/GO/G junctions fabricated with large and small |V(tip)|. GO was semi-insulating and semiconducting, respectively. AFM-based LAO lithography can be used to locally oxidize graphene with various oxidation levels and achieve tunability from semiconducting to semi-insulating GO.     

Immobilization of carbon nanotubes on functionalized graphene film grown by chemical vapor deposition and characterization of the hybrid material

We report the surface functionalization of graphene films grown by chemical vapor deposition and fabrication of a hybrid material combining multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene (CNT–G). Amine-terminated self-assembled monolayers were prepared on graphene by the UV-modification of oxidized groups introduced onto the film surface. Amine-termination led to effective interaction with functionalized CNTs to assemble a CNT–G hybrid through covalent bonding. Characterization clearly showed no defects of the graphene film after the immobilization reaction with CNT. In addition, the hybrid graphene material revealed a distinctive CNT–G structure and p–n type electrical properties. The introduction of functional groups on the graphene film surface and fabrication of CNT–G hybrids with the present technique could provide an efficient, novel route to device fabrication.     

氧化石墨烯对丁腈橡胶-聚氨酯共混物动态力学性能的影响

以丁腈橡胶(NBR)与聚氨酯(PU)为共混基体,添加氧化石墨烯(GO)或片状石墨(G)通过热压成型工艺合成GO/NBR-PU和G/NBR-PU三元体系复合材料,借助DMA、FTIR、SEM等手段,研究氧化石墨烯与片状石墨对NBR-PU共混物动态力学性能的影响。研究结果表明,GO加入后,损耗角正切值(tanδ)、损耗模量(E″)以及储能模量(E′)随着GO含量的增加先增加后减小,当GO含量达到临界值(与NBR质量比为3%)时,其动态力学性能tanδ、E″及E′表现出较好的性能;而添加片状石墨时,NBR-PU共混物的阻尼性能和力学性能均有一定的增强,但随着含量进一步增加,阻尼性能与力学性能有所下降。通过微观分析发现,GO的增强作用主要是因为界面效应,而无论是氧化石墨烯或是片状石墨,在基体中均有很强的团聚作用,而性能下降的主要原因就是其团聚作用。     

石墨烯/纳米TiO2复合材料的制备及其光催化性能

以氧化石墨烯（GO）和钛酸四丁酯（Ti（OBu）₄）作为初始反应物,采用乙醇溶剂热法合成了石墨烯/纳米TiO₂复合材料,并利用XRD、FE-SEM、TEM、RAMAN和XPS等手段对石墨烯/纳米TiO₂复合材料的晶体结构、形貌及元素形态等性质进行了表征,同时将复合材料应用于光催化降解甲基橙溶液,进行光催化性能评价。结果表明：Ti（OBu）₄在乙醇溶剂中通过化学静电引力吸附到GO表面,经过溶剂热反应,GO被还原成石墨烯的同时,石墨烯的表面负载生长锐钛矿TiO₂颗粒。随着溶剂热反应时间的延长,GO表面的活性基团减少,还原更加彻底,同时TiO₂晶粒有一定的增大趋势;与纯TiO₂相比,石墨烯/纳米TiO₂复合材料光催化活性明显提高,石墨烯含量对复合材料的光催化活性有直接的影响。     

石墨烯/氰酸酯-环氧树脂复合材料的制备和性能

为优化石墨烯/氰酸酯(CE)复合材料的制备工艺并提高其韧性,制备了对苯二胺(PPD)功能化的氧化石墨烯(GO-PPD),分别以GO和GO-PPD为添加物,以CE和环氧树脂(质量比为7:3)共混物为基体树脂制备了GO/CE-环氧树脂和GO-PPD/CE-环氧树脂复合材料。采用红外和拉曼光谱表征GO和GO-PPD的结构,并研究了二者在溶剂中的溶解性。GO-PPD在乙醇等低沸点和低毒性的有机溶剂中表现出稳定的溶解性,与GO相比,GO-PPD明显改善了复合材料制备的工艺性。性能研究表明,GO和GO-PPD的加入均会降低基体树脂的固化温度,明显提高其力学性能和热性能,使基体树脂的介电常数和介电损耗显著增大,但仍然基本保持良好的耐湿热性和耐腐蚀性。石墨烯表面的化学性质影响石墨烯/CE-环氧树脂复合材料的综合性能,与GO相比,GO-PPD的加入能更明显提高复合材料的力学性能和耐热性。     

The effect of geometric factor of carbon nanofillers on the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) composites: a comparative study

In this study, the effects of filler geometry on the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) composites filled with graphene nanosheets (GNSs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and GNS–CNT hybrid nanofillers have been investigated. The GNSs, CNTs, and hybrid GNS–CNT were well dispersed in the PTT matrix using a simple coagulation process. GNSs were prepared from graphene oxide (GO) through hydrazine reduction, and thermal reduction of GO at two different temperatures of 1050 and 1500 °C. PTT filled with different aspect ratios and oxygen functional groups of GNS were also prepared in order to compare the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding properties. The aspect ratios of GNSs and CNTs were estimated by using an ellipsoid model. Percolation scaling laws were applied to the magnitudes of conductivity to reveal the percolation network and filler dispersion. The percolation exponent of the PTT/GNS composites was larger than that of the PTT/CNT composites. The percolated filler–filler network at which the percolation exponent changed was correlated with the filler geometric structure. GNS–CNT hybrid nanofillers formed a complex double brush structure in the PTT/GNS–CNT composites. The geometric structure, aspect ratio, and intrinsic conductivity of carbon nanofillers affected the electrical percolation threshold and EMI shielding efficiency of the composites.     

Transparent, luminescent, antibacterial and patternable film forming composites of graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide

Multifunctional graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide (GO/RGO) composites were prepared through electrostatic interaction using biocompatible ingredients. Different functionalities were added to GO/RGO by anchoring materials such as native lactoferrin (NLf), NLf protected Au clusters (designated as Au@NLf), chitosan (Ch) and combinations thereof. Anchoring of Ch and NLf enhances the antibacterial property of RGO/GO. The addition of Ch to RGO/GO not only helped in forming stable dispersions but also helped in fabricating large (cm(2)) area films through a simple solvent evaporation technique. Functionalities such as photoluminescence were added to Ch-RGO/GO composites by anchoring Au@NLf on it. The composites thus formed showed stable luminescence in presence of various metal ions in the solid state. The composite showed reasonable stability against pH and temperature variations as well. The as-prepared films were transparent and the transparency could be modulated by controlling the concentration of RGO/GO in the composite. The antibacterial property and ability to form stable thin films may provide an opportunity to use such composites for medical and environmental remediation applications as well. Erasable patterns were fabricated on the film by stamping required patterns under compressive pressure. Luminescent patterns can be inscribed on the film and can be erased by simply wetting it. Such films with erasable information may be useful for security applications.     

Fabrication of graphene thin films based on layer-by-layer self-assembly of functionalized graphene nanosheets

In this study, we present a facile means of fabricating graphene thin films via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of charged graphene nanosheets (GS) based on electrostatic interactions. To this end, graphite oxide (GO) obtained from graphite powder using Hummers method is chemically reduced to carboxylic acid-functionalized GS and amine-functionalized GS to perform an alternate LbL deposition between oppositely charged GSs. Specifically, for successful preparation of positively charged GS, GOs are treated with an intermediate acyl-chlorination reaction by thionyl chloride and a subsequent amidation reaction in pyridine, whereby a stable GO dispersibility can be maintained within the polar reaction solvent. As a result, without the aid of additional hybridization with charged nanomaterials or polyelectrolytes, the oppositely charged graphene nanosheets can be electrostatically assembled to form graphene thin films in an aqueous environment, while obtaining controllability over film thickness and transparency. Finally, the electrical property of the assembled graphene thin films can be enhanced through a thermal treatment process. Notably, the introduction of chloride functions during the acyl-chlorination reaction provides the p-doping effect for the assembled graphene thin films, yielding a sheet resistance of 1.4 kΩ/sq with a light transmittance of 80% after thermal treatment. Since the proposed method allows for large-scale production as well as elaborate manipulation of the physical properties of the graphene thin films, it can be potentially utilized in various applications, such as transparent electrodes, flexible displays and highly sensitive biosensors.     

以氧化石墨烯为氧化介质制备石墨烯/聚苯胺导电复合材料

采用超声辅助Hummers法制得厚度约为1 nm的氧化石墨烯, 以其为氧化介质与苯胺反应合成了石墨烯/聚苯胺(RGO/PANI)导电复合材料。利用AFM、SEM、XRD和FTIR对反应所得产物进行了表征。结果表明: 苯胺在略高于室温的酸性水溶液中可以对氧化石墨烯(GO)进行还原, 而苯胺自身则被氧化石墨烯中大量的含氧基团氧化并发生聚合反应, 最终生成RGO/PANI导电复合材料, 当苯胺用量为1 mL, 氧化石墨烯用量为0.1 g, 在水浴温度为70 ℃下剧烈搅拌24 h时, 获得的RGO/PANI复合材料导电性最佳, 约为10 S/cm。     

Electrowetting on dielectric experiments using graphene

We report electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) experiments using graphene; a transparent, flexible and stretchable nanomaterial. Graphene sheets were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, and transferred to various substrates (including glass slides and PET films). Reversible contact angle changes were observed on the Teflon-coated graphene electrode with both AC and DC voltages. Nyquist plots of the EWOD reveal that the graphene electrode has higher capacitive impedance than gold electrodes under otherwise identical conditions, suggesting a lower density of pin-holes and defects in the Teflon/graphene electrode than in the Teflon/gold electrode. Furthermore, we have observed reduced electrolysis of the electrolyte and smaller leakage current in the dielectric layer (Teflon) on graphene electrodes than on Au electrodes at the same Teflon thickness and applied voltage. We expect that the improved EWOD properties using graphene as an electrode material will open the door to various applications, including flexible displays and droplet manipulation in three-dimensional microfluidics.     

Carbon Nanotube–Multilayered Graphene Edge Plane Core–Shell Hybrid Foams for Ultrahigh‐Performance Electromagnetic‐Interference Shielding

Materials with an ultralow density and ultrahigh electromagnetic‐interference (EMI)‐shielding performance are highly desirable in fields of aerospace, portable electronics, and so on. Theoretical work predicts that 3D carbon nanotube (CNT)/graphene hybrids are one of the most promising lightweight EMI shielding materials, owing to their unique nanostructures and extraordinary electronic properties. Herein, for the first time, a lightweight, flexible, and conductive CNT–multilayered graphene edge plane (MLGEP) core–shell hybrid foam is fabricated using chemical vapor deposition. MLGEPs are seamlessly grown on the CNTs, and the hybrid foam exhibits excellent EMI shielding effectiveness which exceeds 38.4 or 47.5 dB in X‐band at 1.6 mm, while the density is merely 0.0058 or 0.0089 g cm^?3, respectively, which far surpasses the best values of reported carbon‐based composite materials. The grafted MLGEPs on CNTs can obviously enhance the penetration losses of microwaves in foams, leading to a greatly improved EMI shielding performance. In addition, the CNT–MLGEP hybrids also exhibit a great potential as nano‐reinforcements for fabricating high‐strength polymer‐based composites. The results provide an alternative approach to fully explore the potentials of CNT and graphene, for developing advanced multifunctional materials.     

Oxidized graphene in ionic liquids for assembling chemically modified electrodes: a structural and electrochemical characterization study

Dispersions of graphene oxide (GO) nanoribbons in ionic liquids, ILs (either 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM-Cl-) or 1-butylpyridinium chloride (-Bupy-Cl-)) have been used to assemble modified screen printed electrodes (SPEs). The graphene oxide/ionic liquid dispersions have been morphologically and structurally characterized by the use of several techniques: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, high-resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The assembled modified SPEs have then been challenged with various compounds and compared to several electro-active targets. In all cases high peak currents were detected, as well as significant potential shifts, especially in the detection of catecholamines and NADH, compared with the bare SPE and the conventional electrodes, such as glassy carbon (GC) and highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG). This opens the way to the assembly of new types of sensors and biosensors. The enhanced performances observed are attributed to electrocatalytic effects related to the high electrode surface area, to oxygen-assisted electron transfer, as well as to the disordering effect of the ILs, this latter related to the favorable π-π interactions with the ILs and the GO plane.     

Copper/silver nanoparticle incorporated graphene films prepared by a low-temperature solution method for transparent conductive electrodes

A facile one-step co-reduction and low-temperature solution process was developed to prepare Cu–graphene (Cu–G), Ag–graphene (Ag–G), and Cu–Ag–graphene (Cu–Ag–G) composite films on glass substrates. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images show that Cu/Ag nanoparticles are either distributed on the surface of graphene nanosheets or covered by graphene. The conductivity and transparency of these films were studied, and the results show that incorporation of Cu and Ag nanoparticles into graphene films can improve film conductivity. Ag nanoparticles are more effective in improving film conductivity. The conductivity and transparency of the composite films can be balanced by introducing the optimum amount of Cu or Ag nanoparticles. The conductivity and transparency of Cu–Ag–G films with optimum metal nanoparticle concentration are as good as those of Ag–G composite films. The Cu–Ag–G films meet the requirements of low-cost, high-conductivity, and transparent films that can be used as electrode materials. Thus, the proposed low-temperature solution process is a new route to preparing low-cost transparent and conductive electrodes on various substrates, including glass and flexible polymer substrates.     

Covalent grafting of triazine derivatives onto graphene oxide for preparation of epoxy composites with improved interfacial and mechanical properties

Interface interactions are the important problems in improving the mechanical properties of graphene and polymer composites. In this work, a simple method is proposed to prepare epoxy composites with admirable properties through constructing dendrimers with cyanuric chloride (TCT) and diethylenetriamine (DETA) onto graphene oxide (GO) surface. The FTIR, XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, SEM and TEM were used to confirm the successful grafting of TCT and DETA molecules onto the surface of GO. The interfacial adhesion between GO–TCT–DETA and epoxy resin is enhanced due to the formation of a strong chemical bond between the amino group on the GO surface and the epoxy resins. The tensile and flexural strength of GO–TCT–DETA/epoxy composites have considerable improvement (40.79 and 48.56%) compared with that of epoxy resin due to stronger interfacial interaction. In addition, the strengthening mechanism and dispersion of GO–TCT–DETA in epoxy matrix were also demonstrated.     

In situ synthesis of thermochemically reduced graphene oxide conducting nanocomposites

Highly conductive reduced graphene oxide (GO) polymer nanocomposites are synthesized by a well-organized in situ thermochemical synthesis technique. The surface functionalization of GO was carried out with aryl diazonium salt including 4-iodoaniline to form phenyl functionalized GO (I-Ph-GO). The thermochemically developed reduced GO (R-I-Ph-GO) has five times higher electrical conductivity (42,000 S/m) than typical reduced GO (R-GO). We also demonstrate a R-I-Ph-GO/polyimide (PI) composites having more than 10(4) times higher conductivity (~1 S/m) compared to a R-GO/PI composites. The electrical resistances of PI composites with R-I-Ph-GO were dramatically dropped under ~3% tensile strain. The R-I-Ph-GO/PI composites with electrically sensitive response caused by mechanical strain are expected to have broad implications for nanoelectromechanical systems.     

A Novel Multiscale Reinforcement by In-Situ Growing Carbon Nanotubes on Graphene Oxide Grafted Carbon Fibers and Its Reinforced Carbon/Carbon Composites with Improved Tensile Properties

In-situ growing carbon nanotubes(CNTs)directly on carbon?bers(CFs)always lead to a degraded tensile strength of CFs and then a poor?ber-dominated mechanical property of carbon/carbon composites(C/Cs).To solve this issue,here,a novel carbon?ber-based multiscale reinforcement is reported.To synthesize it,carbon?bers(CFs)have been?rst grafted by graphene oxide(GO),and then carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have been in-situ grown on GO-grafted CFs by catalytic chemical vapor deposition.Characterizations on this novel reinforcement show that GO grafting cannot only nondestructively improve the surface chemical activity of CFs but also protect CFs against the high-temperature corrosion of metal catalyst during CNT growth,which maintains their tensile properties.Tensile property tests for unidirectional C/Cs with different preforms show that this novel reinforcement can endow C/C with improved tensile properties,32% and 87%higher than that of pure C/C and C/C only doped with in-situ grown CNTs.This work would open up a possibility to fabricate multiscale C/Cs with excellent global performance.     

Enhanced thermal resistance of phenolic resin composites at low loading of graphene oxide

By incorporating graphene oxide (GO) into phenolic resin (PR), GO/PR composites were prepared, and the effects of the content and reduction degree of GO on thermal resistance of GO/PR composites were studied. The peak degradation temperature of the PR was increased by about 14 °C with GO which was heat treated. The char yield of GO/PR composite at a GO weight fraction of 0.5% was about 11% greater than that of PR. The interactions such as covalent bonds and π–π stacking between GO and PR were regarded as the main reason for the enhancement. Located at the GO–PR interface, GO effectively anchored and structured PR molecular near the surfaces of GO sheets, and thus facilitated the formation of char. The superiority of GO/PR composites over PR in terms of thermal properties enhancement should also be related to the promoting graphitization by the addition of GO.     

Conducting polymer coated graphene oxide reinforced C–epoxy composites for enhanced electrical conduction

Enhanced electrical conductivities were achieved in C–epoxy composites by integrating them with conducting polymers (CPs), namely poly pyrrole (PPY), poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and graphene oxide (GO) enwrapped by CPs. By in-situ polymerization of pyrrole or 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in the presence of the GO (template), sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (structure directing agent), ferric chloride (oxidant), the electrically conductive sheets of GO enwrapped CPs were obtained. The formation of CP coating on GO was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis studies. Different wt% of CP and CP coated GO were added to the epoxy resin and this resin was used to prepare the 2D laminated C–epoxy composites by hand layup method. DC electrical conductivity of the prepared C–epoxy composites were analyzed using current–voltage (I–V) characteristics and impedance measurements. Typical results showed that CP coated GO, at 0.5 wt% addition to epoxy imparted highest DC electrical conductivity for C–epoxy composite.