Chemical Self Assembly of Graphene Sheets

Chemically derived graphene sheets were found to self-assemble onto patterned gold structures via electrostatic interactions between noncovalent functional groups on GS and gold. This afforded regular arrays of single graphene sheets on large substrates, characterized by scanning electron and Auger microscopy imaging and Raman spectroscopy. Self assembly was used for the first time to produce on-substrate and fully-suspended graphene electrical devices. Molecular coatings on the GS were removed by high current electrical annealing, which recovered the high electrical conductance and Dirac point of the GS. Molecular sensors for highly sensitive gas detections are demonstrated with self-assembled GS devices.Comment: Nano Research, in press, http://www.thenanoresearch.co

Hydrogenation and Hydro-Carbonation and Etching of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We present a systematic experimental investigation of the reactions between hydrogen plasma and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at various temperatures. Microscopy, infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy and electrical transport measurements are carried out to investigate the properties of SWNTs after hydrogenation. Structural deformations, drastically reduced electrical conductance and increased semiconducting nature of SWNTs upon sidewall hydrogenation are observed. These changes are reversible upon thermal annealing at 500C via dehydrogenation. Harsh plasma or high temperature reactions lead to etching of nanotube likely via hydro-carbonation. Smaller SWNTs are markedly less stable against hydro-carbonation than larger tubes. The results are fundamental and may have implications to basic and practical applications including hydrogen storage, sensing, band-gap engineering for novel electronics and new methods of manipulation, functionalization and etching of nanotubes.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Edge Magneto-Fingerprints in Disordered Graphene Nanoribbons

We report on (magneto)-transport experiments in chemically derived narrow graphene nanoribbons under high magnetic fields (up to 60 Tesla). Evidences of field-dependent electronic confinement features are given, and allow estimating the possible ribbon edge symmetry. Besides, the measured large positive magnetoconductance indicates a strong suppression of backscattering induced by the magnetic field. Such scenario is supported by quantum simulations which consider different types of underlying disorders (smooth edge disorder and long range Coulomb scatters).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Electrically driven light emission from hot single-walled carbon nanotubes at various temperatures and ambient pressures

Electroluminescence of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes down to ∼15K is measured. We observe electrically driven light emission from suspended quasimetallic nanotubes in vacuum down to ∼15K and under different gas pressures at room temperature. Light emission is found to originate from hot electrons in the presence of electrically driven nonequilibrium optical phonons. Reduced light emission is observed in exponential manner as electron and optical phonon temperatures in the nanotube are lowered by lower ambient temperature or higher gas pressure. The results reveal over wide ambient conditions, light emission in a suspended tube is from thermally excited electron-hole recombination

A Novel N-Arylpyridone Compound Alleviates the Inflammatory and Fibrotic Reaction of Silicosis by Inhibiting the ASK1-p38 Pathway and Regulating Macrophage Polarization

Silicosis is one of the potentially fatal occupational diseases characterized by respiratory dysfunction, chronic interstitial inflammation, and fibrosis, for which treatment options are limited. Previous studies showed that a novel N-arylpyridone compound named AKEX0011 exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis; however, it is unknown whether it could also be effective against silicosis. Therefore, we sought to investigate the preventive and therapeutic roles of AKEX0011 in a silicosis rodent model and in a silica-stimulated macrophage cell line. In vivo, our results showed that AKEX0011 ameliorated silica-induced imaging lung damages, respiratory dysfunction, reduced the secretion of inflammatory and fibrotic factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β, IL-4, and IL-10), and the deposition of fibrosis-related proteins (collagen I, fibronectin, and α-SMA), regardless of early or advanced therapy. Specifically, we found that AKEX0011 attenuated silicosis by inhibiting apoptosis, blocking the ASK1-p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and regulating polarization of macrophages. In vitro, AKEX0011 inhibited macrophages from secreting inflammatory cytokines and inhibited apoptosis of macrophages in pre-treated and post-treated models, concurrent with blocking the ASK1-p38 pathway and inhibiting M1 polarization. Collectively, AKEX0011, as a novel N-arylpyridone compound, exerted protective effects for silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro, and hence, it could be a strong drug candidate for the treatment of silicosis