Modulating the electronic and magnetic properties of graphene

Graphene, an sp2 hybridized single sheet of carbon atoms organized in a honeycomb lattice, is a zero band gap semiconductor or semimetal. This emerging material has been the subject of recent intensive research due to the novelty of its structural, electronic, optical, mechanical, and magnetic properties. Due to these properties, graphene is a favorable material for the fabrication of electronic devices, transparent electrodes, spintronics devices, and a growing array of several other applications that explore the potential of this marvelous material. However, the lack of intrinsic band gap and nonmagnetic nature of graphene limit its practical applications in the widely expanding field of carbon-based devices. To take advantage of the hidden potential of this material, numerous techniques have been developed to tailor its electronic and magnetic properties. These methods include the mutual interaction between graphene layer and its substrate, doping with surface adatoms, substitutional doping, vacancy creation, and edges and strain manipulation. Herein, an overview of recently emerging innovative techniques adopted to tailor the electronic and magnetic properties of graphene is presented. The limitations, possible directions for future research and applications in diverse fields of these methods are also mentionedpublishersversionPeer reviewe

3D dendritic-Fe2O3@C nanoparticles as an anode material for lithium ion batteries

3D dendritic Fe2O3 nanoparticles wrapped with carbon (denoted as 3DD-Fe2O3@C hereafter) were synthesized.</p

Pt nanoparticles decorated rose-like Bi2O2CO3 configurations for efficient photocatalytic removal of water organic pollutants

Pt nanoparticles decorated with rose-like Bi2O2CO3 configurations were synthesized via a simple photoreduction method at room temperature. The structure, morphology, optical and electronic properties, and photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared materials were characterized. Compared to pure Bi2O2CO3, the Pt/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalysts show better performance in decomposing RhB, BPA and OTC under visible light (? > 420 nm). The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Pt/Bi2O2CO3 could be attributed to the modification in light absorption (? > 420 nm) charge migration and the separation of photo-generated electrons (e?) and holes (h+). Free radical trapping experiments demonstrated that the main active species of the catalytic reaction are different in decomposing RhB and BPA.publishersversionPeer reviewe

In situ growth of β-FeOOH on hierarchically porous carbon as anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Sugarcane bagasse, a waste product of the sugarcane industry can be used as a precursor for the preparation of carbon. In this study, a composite consisting of hierarchically functionalized porous carbon (FPC) and β-FeOOH was synthesized via a simple and effective hydrolysis method. The hydrothermal process before the carbonization and activation of the bagasse maintained the hierarchical interconnected porous structure of the sugarcane bagasse. A nitric acid (HNO3) functionalization treatment enabled an in-situ growth of β-FeOOH on the hierarchically structured bagasse. When tested as an anode for lithium-ion batteries, the obtained FPC/β-FeOOH composite showed a high discharge capacity of 898.8 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 350 cycles and achieved a specific capacity of 446.1 mAh g−1 at a current rate of 1 A g−1 after 1000 cycles together with a remarkable coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. This excellent electrochemical performance of the FPC/β-FeOOH composite can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the interconnected porous structure of porous carbon and the electrochemically active tunnel type β-FeOOH nanorods. The strategy developed here is promising in design and fabrication of other composites having interconnected porous structures with high performance

Three-dimensional aerogel based on in-situ growth of 1T-MoS2 on functionalized hierarchical porous carbon/reduced graphene oxide for energy storage

2019 Elsevier B.V. Three-dimensional (3D) aerogels based on in-situ growth of tetragonal molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS2) on hydrothermally acid-treated porous carbon (HAPC) derived from sugarcane bagasse and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were hydrothermally synthesized. The resultant composites, HAPC/MoS2/rGO (1:2:0.5) and HAPC/MoS2/rGO (1:1:0.5) were evaluated as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and as a supercapacitor, respectively. This HAPC/MoS2/rGO (1:2:0.5) composite delivers a high reversible discharge capacity of 952 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g−1 and outstanding high-rate capability as an anode for LIBs. While another composite HAPC/MoS2/rGO (1:1:0.5) reveals the best performance as a supercapacitor by delivering a specific capacitance of 385 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Such an excellent and stable performance of the composites in energy storage can be ascribed as the synergistic effect of three-dimensional aerogel consisting of 1T-MoS2 nanosheets, graphene sheets, and porous carbon. The 1T-MoS2 layered structured nanosheets are tightly lying on the surface of HAPC, making their strong contact with each other and therefore reducing the diffusion path for both electrons and lithium ions. While the electrical conductivity of the composite system is enhanced by the graphene sheets