Submit to Nanomaterials Review for Nanomaterials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "2D and Carbon Nanomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 17212

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Konstantin Yu Amsharov

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

1. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute of Organic Chemistry II, Erlangen, Germany
2. Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 2, 06120 Halle, Germany
Interests: rational synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials; nanographenes; nanotubes; nanoribbons; fullerenes; buckybowls

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Synthesis of atomically precise carbon-based nanostructures has become one of the most relevant branches of modern material science. The possibility of managing physical properties through the size, shape, and edge topology allows for the design of materials with a wide range of possible applications. Aryl–Aryl coupling serves as a key transformation in the bottom-up construction of the desired nanostructures. It is, therefore, crucial to develop new synthetic tools that allow for the formation of effective C–C bonds suitable for the rational construction of nanographenes and related carbon-based nanomaterials.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials aims to provide an overview of recent advances in carbon-based nanomaterials, including in their synthesis, fabrication, properties, and applications.

Prof. Dr. Konstantin Yu Amsharov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

rational synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials
graphenes
Carbon Nanotubes
nanographenes
nanotubes
nanoribbons
fullerenes
buckybowls

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 3126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Hydrogen Annealing on Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors

by Takashi Uchino, Greg N. Ayre, David C. Smith, John L. Hutchison, C. H. de Groot and Peter Ashburn

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2481; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11102481 - 23 Sep 2021

Viewed by 1830

Abstract

We have systematically investigated the effects of hydrogen annealing on Ni- and Al-contacted carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs), whose work functions have not been affected by hydrogen annealing. Measured results show that the electronic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes are modified by hydrogen adsorption. The Ni-contacted CNTFETs, which initially showed metallic behavior, changed their p-FET behavior with a high on-current over 10 µA after hydrogen annealing. The on-current of the as-made p-FETs is much improved after hydrogen annealing. The Al-contacted CNTFETs, which initially showed metallic behavior, showed unipolar p-FET behavior after hydrogen annealing. We analyzed the energy band diagrams of the CNTFETs to explain experimental results, finding that the electron affinity and the bandgap of single-walled carbon nanotubes changed after hydrogen annealing. These results are consistent with previously reported ab initio calculations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 9709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chirality Distributions for Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Determined by Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

by Masaru Irita, Takahiro Yamamoto and Yoshikazu Homma

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2309; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11092309 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

To realize single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) chiral selective growth, elucidating the mechanism of SWCNT chirality

(n, m)

To realize single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) chiral selective growth, elucidating the mechanism of SWCNT chirality

(n, m)

selectivity is important. For this purpose, an accurate evaluation method for evaluating the chirality distribution of grown SWCNTs without post-growth processing or liquid-dispersion of SWCNTs is indispensable. Here, we used photoluminescence spectroscopy to directly measure the chirality distributions of individual semiconducting SWCNTs suspended on a pillar-patterned substrate. The number of chirality-assigned SWCNTs was up to 332 and 17 chirality types with the chiral angles ranging from

0^{°}

{28.05}^{°}

were detected. The growth yield of SWCNTs was confirmed to primarily depends on the chiral angle in accordance with the screw dislocation model. Furthermore, when higher-yield chiralities are selected, the chiral angle distribution with a peak corresponding to near-armchair SWCNTs is well fitted with a model that incorporates the thermodynamic effect at the SWCNT-catalyst interface into the kink growth-based kinetic model. Our quantitative and statistical data provide new insights into SWCNT growth mechanism as well as experimental confirmation of theoretical predictions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2718 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Resistive Response of Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites Subjected to Water Aging

by Liberata Guadagno and Luigi Vertuccio

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2183; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11092183 - 25 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1539

Abstract

This work aimed to monitor, through the changes in electrical resistance, the evolution of the mechanical properties due to aging caused by water sorption in carbon nanotube-based epoxy composites. The epoxy/CNT nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing the filler in the precursor through the ultra-sonication process and mixing the hardener by mechanical stirring. After an evaluation of the electrical properties, detected through a two-probe electrical measurement method, of nanocomposites at different percentages by weight of the filler (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0), a concentration (0.1% by weight), close to that of the electrical percolation threshold, was chosen to evaluate the resistive response. This specific concentration was selected in order to obtain maximized values of the variation detected for the changes in the electrical resistance resulting from phenomena of structural relaxations/rearrangements due to water absorption. In particular, the electrical conductivity value switched from 8.2 × 10⁻¹⁴ S/m for the unfilled epoxy resin to 6.3 × 10⁻² S/m for carbon nanotube-based epoxy composite at 0.1% by weight of the nanofiller. The water sorption caused a reduction in the mechanical properties (storage modulus and tan δ) due to swelling and plasticization phenomena, which caused the structural reorganization of the conductive interparticle contacts in the matrix with a consequent variation in the electrical resistance of the material. The found ‘non-Fickian’ water diffusion behavior was very similar to the variation in the electrical resistance with time. This last correlation allows the association of the measurement of the electrical resistance with the quantity of absorbed water and, therefore, with the aging of the material to water absorption, through the sensitivity factor (β). The resistive nature of the composite can be used to monitor the amount of water absorption and the changes in the structure of the material subject to water aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 2444 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Chlorosulfonic Acid Stretched Carbon Nanotube Sheet for Flexible and Low-Voltage Heating Applications

by Daniel Rui Chen, Megha Chitranshi, Paa Kwasi Adusei, Mark Schulz, Vesselin Shanov and Marc M. Cahay

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2132; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11082132 - 21 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2377

Abstract

The carbon nanotube (CNT) is celebrated for its electrothermal property, which indicates the capability of a material to transform electrical energy into heat due to the Joule effect. The CNT nanostructure itself, as a one-dimensional material, limits the electron conduction path, thereby creating a unique heating phenomenon. In this work, we explore the possible correlation between CNT alignment in sheets and heating performance. The alignment of carbon nanotubes is induced by immersion and stretching in chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) solution. The developed CSA-stretched CNT sheet demonstrated excellent heating performance with a fast response rate of 6.5 °C/s and reached 180 °C in less than 30 s under a low voltage of 2.5 V. The heating profile of the stretched CNT sheet remained stable after bending and twisting movements, making it a suitable heating material for wearable devices, heatable smart windows, and in de-icing or defogging applications. The specific strength and specific conductance of the CSA-stretched CNT sheet also increased five- and two-fold, respectively, in comparison to the pristine CNT sheet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 6630 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultra-Low Percolation Threshold Induced by Thermal Treatments in Co-Continuous Blend-Based PP/PS/MWCNTs Nanocomposites

by Daria Strugova, José Carlos Ferreira Junior, Éric David and Nicole R. Demarquette

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1620; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11061620 - 21 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2376

Abstract

The effect of the crystallization of polypropylene (PP) forming an immiscible polymer blend with polystyrene (PS) containing conductive multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on its electrical conductivity and electrical percolation threshold (PT) was investigated in this work. PP/PS/MWCNTs composites with a co-continuous morphology and a concentration of MWCNTs ranging from 0 to 2 wt.% were obtained. The PT was greatly reduced by a two-step approach. First, a 50% reduction in the PT was achieved by using the effect of double percolation in the blend system compared to PP/MWCNTs. Second, with the additional thermal treatments, referred to as slow-cooling treatment (with the cooling rate 0.5 °C/min), and isothermal treatment (at 135 °C for 15 min), ultra-low PT values were achieved for the PP/PS/MWCNTs system. A 0.06 wt.% of MWCNTs was attained upon the use of the slow-cooling treatment and 0.08 wt.% of MWCNTs upon the isothermal treatment. This reduction is attributed to PP crystals’ volume exclusion, with no alteration in the blend morphology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 2264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Graphene Formation through Pulsed Wire Discharge of Graphite Strips in Water: Exfoliation Mechanism

by Shigeru Tanaka, Daisuke Inao, Kouki Hasegawa, Kazuyuki Hokamoto, Pengwan Chen and Xin Gao

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1223; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11051223 - 06 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2271

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the mechanism of exfoliation of graphene through electrical pulsed wire discharge (PWD) of a graphite strip, made by the compression of inexpensive expanded graphite in water. The explosion of the graphite strip was visualized using a high-speed video camera. During the energized heating of the sample, explosions, accompanied by shock waves due to expansion of gas inside the sample, occurred at various locations of the sample, and the sample started to expand rapidly. The exfoliated graphene was observed as a region with low light transmittance. The PWD phenomenon of graphite strips, a type of porous material, is reasonably explained by the change in electrical resistivity of the sample during discharge and the light emission due to energy transition of the excited gas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

40 pages, 13497 KiB

Open AccessReview

Strategies for Incorporating Graphene Oxides and Quantum Dots into Photoresponsive Azobenzenes for Photonics and Thermal Applications

by Anuja Bokare, Jehanzeb Arif and Folarin Erogbogbo

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2211; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11092211 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3321

Abstract

Graphene represents a new generation of materials which exhibit unique physicochemical properties such as high electron mobility, tunable optics, a large surface to volume ratio, and robust mechanical strength. These properties make graphene an ideal candidate for various optoelectronic, photonics, and sensing applications. In recent years, numerous efforts have been focused on azobenzene polymers (AZO-polymers) as photochromic molecular switches and thermal sensors because of their light-induced conformations and surface-relief structures. However, these polymers often exhibit drawbacks such as low photon storage lifetime and energy density. Additionally, AZO-polymers tend to aggregate even at moderate doping levels, which is detrimental to their optical response. These issues can be alleviated by incorporating graphene derivatives (GDs) into AZO-polymers to form orderly arranged molecules. GDs such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can modulate the optical response, energy density, and photon storage capacity of these composites. Moreover, they have the potential to prevent aggregation and increase the mechanical strength of the azobenzene complexes. This review article summarizes and assesses literature on various strategies that may be used to incorporate GDs into azobenzene complexes. The review begins with a detailed analysis of structures and properties of GDs and azobenzene complexes. Then, important aspects of GD-azobenzene composites are discussed, including: (1) synthesis methods for GD-azobenzene composites, (2) structure and physicochemical properties of GD-azobenzene composites, (3) characterization techniques employed to analyze GD-azobenzene composites, and most importantly, (4) applications of these composites in various photonics and thermal devices. Finally, a conclusion and future scope are given to discuss remaining challenges facing GD-azobenzene composites in functional science engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes)

► Show Figures