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Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Simulation and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 21116

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kamila Sadowska

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Guest Editor

Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02 382 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: chemistry of nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes and graphene derivatives; functionalization and characterization of carbon nanostructures for biosensors and biofuel cells; spectroscopic methods of materials characterization
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbon nanostructures, especially carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds, and graphene derivatives, have attracted an immense amount of interest because of their outstanding properties. Although carbon nanostructures are already well established in the scientific community, there is still a need for further studies, especially when referring to commercial applications. Two main research approaches are particularly important for the wider application of nanocarbons: optimization of their synthesis methods and surface functionalization. Due to the plethora of synthesis methods, the physiochemical properties of the obtained materials may differ significantly. In order to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by these materials, it is crucial to investigate and understand the synthesis mechanisms, characteristics methods, and physicochemical properties. On the other hand, effective functionalization by low-cost methods and detailed characterization of synthesized nanomaterials is the first step toward utilizing the whole spectrum of their applications.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to present the latest developments in the field of research on carbon nanostructures. Articles are sought on the synthesis of carbon nanostructures, their chemical functionalization, as well as their usage in sensing, electrochemistry and photochemistry, catalysis, composites, energy harvesting and storage, adsorption, and more.

Dr. Kamila Sadowska
Guest Editor

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Keywords

carbon nanotubes
graphene and its derivatives
carbon dots
nanodiamonds
surface functionalization
carbon nanostructures synthesis
new types of carbon nanostructures

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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4 pages, 3549 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ion Dynamics at the Carbon Electrode/Electrolyte Interface: Influence of Carbon Nanotubes Types

by Freddy Escobar-Teran, Hubert Perrot and Ozlem Sel

Materials 2022, 15(5), 1867; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15051867 - 02 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2162

Abstract

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and AC-electrogravimetry methods were employed to study ion dynamics in carbon nanotube base electrodes in NaCl aqueous electrolyte. Two types of carbon nanotubes, Double Wall Carbon Nanotube (DWCNT) and Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT), were chosen due to their variable morphology of pores and structure properties. The effect of pore morphology/structure on the capacitive charge storage mechanisms demonstrated that DWCNT base electrodes are the best candidates for energy storage applications in terms of current variation and specific surface area. Furthermore, the mass change obtained via EQCM showed that DWCNT films is 1.5 times greater than MWCNT films in the same potential range. In this way, the permselectivity of DWCNT films showed cation exchange preference at cathode potentials while MWCNT films showed anion exchange preference at anode potentials. The relative concentration obtained from AC-electrogravimetry confirm that DWCNT base electrodes are the best candidates for charge storage capacity electrodes, since they can accommodate higher concentration of charged species than MWCNT base electrodes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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13 pages, 2635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermoplastic Intumescent Coatings Modified with Pentaerythritol-Occluded Carbon Nanotubes

by Michał Tomczak, Jakub Łopiński, Agnieszka Kowalczyk and Krzysztof Kowalczyk

Materials 2021, 14(21), 6284; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14216284 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

A thermoplastic intumescent coating system (IC) based on poly(vinyl acetate) was modified by two forms of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), i.e., by a nanofiller powder and its solid dispersions in pentaerythritol (PER-CNTs). It was revealed that only the PER-CNTs modifier allows us to obtain solvent-borne ICs with a relatively high CNTs concentration (1–3 wt. parts of CNTs/100 wt. parts of paint solids) and acceptable application viscosity. Thermal insulation time (TIT) and intumescent factor (IF) of the ICs on a steel substrate (a fire test according to a cellulosic fire curve), as well as morphology, chemical structure (by the FT-IR technique) and mechanical strength of the charred systems, were investigated. It was found that the CNTs powder decreases TIT and IF values while PER-occluded CNTs improve these parameters (e.g., +4.6 min and +102% vs. an unmodified sample, respectively). Compressive strength of the charred ICs was improved by the PER-CNTs modifier as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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13 pages, 3143 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Phosphonated Carbon Nanotubes: New Insight into Carbon Nanotubes Functionalization

by Małgorzata Nadolska, Marta Prześniak-Welenc, Marcin Łapiński and Kamila Sadowska

Materials 2021, 14(11), 2726; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14112726 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes were successfully functionalized for the first time in a free radical phosphonylation reaction. Three synthetic protocols were proposed. Carbon nanotubes and diethylphosphite reacted in the presence of known radical initiator, such as azobisisobutyronitrile, single electron oxidant—Mn(OAc)₃, or under UV radiation. The functionalized material was fully characterized by means of spectroscopic methods, together with microscopic, surface area and thermogravimetric analyses. UV-illumination was found to be the most effective approach for introducing phosphonates onto carbon nanotubes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed 6% phosphorus in this sample. Moreover, the method was performed at room temperature for only one hour, using diethylphosphite as a reactant and as a solvent. The functionalized carbon nanotubes showed an improved thermal stability, with a decomposition onset temperature increase of more than 130 °C. This makes it very promising material for flame retarding applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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15 pages, 2772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sorption of Sulfamethoxazole on Inorganic Acid Solution-Etched Biochar Derived from Alfalfa

by Qi Li, Wei Yu, Linwen Guo, Yuhang Wang, Siyu Zhao, Li Zhou and Xiaohui Jiang

Materials 2021, 14(4), 1033; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14041033 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2324

Abstract

The properties of alfalfa-derived biochars etched with phosphoric (PBC) or hydrochloric acid (ClBC) compared with raw materials (BC) were examine in this paper. SEM, FT-IR, XRD, BET and elemental analysis were performed to characterize the micromorphology and chemical structure comprehensibly. The results showed that the porous structure was enhanced, and surface area was increased via etching with inorganic acids. Batch adsorption experiments were performed for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) to biochars. The experimental data showed that modified biochars exhibited higher adsorption capacity for SMX, i.e., the adsorption quantity of ClBC and PBC had risen by 38% and 46%. The impact on pH values suggested that the physisorption, including pore-filling and electrostatic interaction, might be applied to original biochar. In addition, chemisorption also played a role, including hydrogen bonding, π-π electron donor acceptor interaction (π-π EDA), and so on. Furthermore, both pH and coexisting ions also had a certain effect on sorption. Enhancement of the electrostatic attraction between biochar and SMX might also account for the enhanced capacity of SMX at pH < 7, and coexisting ions could decrease the amount of SMX adsorbed onto biochars, mainly because of competition for adsorption sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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12 pages, 3096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unusual Dependence of the Diamond Growth Rate on the Methane Concentration in the Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition Process

by Byeong-Kwan Song, Hwan-Young Kim, Kun-Su Kim, Jeong-Woo Yang and Nong-Moon Hwang

Materials 2021, 14(2), 426; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14020426 - 16 Jan 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1911

Abstract

Although the growth rate of diamond increased with increasing methane concentration at the filament temperature of 2100 °C during a hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD), it decreased with increasing methane concentration from 1% CH₄ –99% H₂ to 3% CH₄ –97% H₂ at 1900 °C. We investigated this unusual dependence of the growth rate on the methane concentration, which might give insight into the growth mechanism of a diamond. One possibility would be that the high methane concentration increases the non-diamond phase, which is then etched faster by atomic hydrogen, resulting in a decrease in the growth rate with increasing methane concentration. At 3% CH₄ –97% H₂, the graphite was coated on the hot filament both at 1900 °C and 2100 °C. The graphite coating on the filament decreased the number of electrons emitted from the hot filament. The electron emission at 3% CH₄ –97% H₂ was 13 times less than that at 1% CH₄ –99% H₂ at the filament temperature of 1900 °C. The lower number of electrons at 3% CH₄ –97% H₂ was attributed to the formation of the non-diamond phase, which etched faster than diamond, resulting in a lower growth rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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10 pages, 7266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Controlled Reduction of Graphene Oxide Using Sulfuric Acid

by Ana Cecilia Reynosa-Martínez, Erika Gómez-Chayres, Rafael Villaurrutia and Eddie López-Honorato

Materials 2021, 14(1), 59; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14010059 - 25 Dec 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2211

Abstract

Sulfuric acid under different concentrations and with the addition of SO₃ (fuming sulfuric acid) was studied as a reducing agent for the production of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Three concentrations of sulfuric acid (1.5, 5, and 12 M), as well as 12 M with 30% SO₃, were used. The reduction of graphene oxide increased with H₂SO₄ concentration as observed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was observed that GO lost primarily epoxide functional groups from 40.4 to 9.7% and obtaining 69.8% carbon when using 12 M H₂SO₄, without leaving sulfur doping. Additionally, the appearance of hexagonal domain structures observed in transmission electron microscopy and analyzed by selected area electron diffraction patterns confirmed the improvement in graphitization. Although the addition of SO₃ in H₂SO₄ improved the GO reduction with 74% carbon, as measured by XPS, the use of SO₃ introduced sulfur doping of 1.3%. RGO produced with sulfuric acid was compared with a sample obtained via ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, a very common reduction route, by observing that the RGO produced with sulfuric acid had a higher C/O ratio than the material reduced by UV irradiation. This work showed that sulfuric acid can be used as a single-step reducing agent for RGO without sulfur contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 3218 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainable Hydrothermal and Solvothermal Synthesis of Advanced Carbon Materials in Multidimensional Applications: A Review

by Lwazi Ndlwana, Naledi Raleie, Kgogobi M. Dimpe, Hezron F. Ogutu, Ekemena O. Oseghe, Mxolisi M. Motsa, Titus A.M. Msagati and Bhekie B. Mamba

Materials 2021, 14(17), 5094; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14175094 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 7925

Abstract

The adoption of green technology is very important to protect the environment and thus there is a need for improving the existing methods for the fabrication of carbon materials. As such, this work proposes to discuss, interrogate, and propose viable hydrothermal, solvothermal, and other advanced carbon materials synthesis methods. The synthesis approaches for advanced carbon materials to be interrogated will include the synthesis of carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, nitrogen/titania-doped carbons, graphene quantum dots, and their nanocomposites with solid/polymeric/metal oxide supports. This will be performed with a particular focus on microwave-assisted solvothermal and hydrothermal synthesis due to their favourable properties such as rapidity, low cost, and being green/environmentally friendly. These methods are regarded as important for the current and future synthesis and modification of advanced carbon materials for application in energy, gas separation, sensing, and water treatment. Simultaneously, the work will take cognisance of methods reducing the fabrication costs and environmental impact while enhancing the properties as a direct result of the synthesis methods. As a direct result, the expectation is to impart a significant contribution to the scientific body of work regarding the improvement of the said fabrication methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications)

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