Nanocatalyst structure as a template to define chirality of nascent single-walled carbon nanotubes

Chirality is a crucial factor in a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) because it determines its optical and electronic properties. A chiral angle spanning from 0° to 30° results from twisting of the graphene sheet conforming the nanotube wall and is equivalently expressed by chiral indexes (n,m). However, lack of chirality control during SWCNT synthesis is an obstacle for a widespread use of these materials. Here we use first-principles density functional theory (DFT) and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to propose and illustrate basic concepts supporting that the nanocatalyst structure may act as a template to control the chirality during nanotube synthesis. DFT optimizations of metal cluster (Co and Cu)∕cap systems for caps of various chiralities are used to show that an inverse template effect from the nascent carbon nanostructure over the catalyst may exist in floating catalysts; such effect determines a negligible chirality control. Classical MD simulations are used to investigate the influence of a strongly interacting substrate on the structure of a metal nanocatalyst and illustrate how such interaction may help preserve catalyst crystallinity. Finally, DFT optimizations of carbon structures on stepped (211) and (321) cobalt surfaces are used to demonstrate the template effect imparted by the nanocatalyst surface on the growing carbon structure at early stages of nucleation. It is found that depending on the step structure and type of building block (short chains, single atoms, or hexagonal rings), thermodynamics favor armchair or zigzag termination, which provides guidelines for a chirality controlled process based on tuning the catalyst structure and the type of precursor gas.     

Graphene nucleation on transition metal surface: structure transformation and role of the metal step edge

The nucleation of graphene on a transition metal surface, either on a terrace or near a step edge, is systematically explored using density functional theory calculations and applying the two-dimensional (2D) crystal nucleation theory. Careful optimization of the supported carbon clusters, C(N) (with size N ranging from 1 to 24), on the Ni(111) surface indicates a ground state structure transformation from a one-dimensional C chain to a 2D sp(2) C network at N ≈ 10-12. Furthermore, the crucial parameters controlling graphene growth on the metal surface, nucleation barrier, nucleus size, and nucleation rate on a terrace or near a step edge are calculated. In agreement with numerous experimental observations, our analysis shows that graphene nucleation near a metal step edge is superior to that on a terrace. On the basis of our analysis, we propose the use of graphene seeds to synthesize high-quality graphene in large area.     

准二维无定形碳结构的制备和结构表征

从单层和少层的石墨烯出发,利用透射电子显微镜中的高能电子束辐照,可控地制备了准二维完全无定形和半无定形碳结构.用高分辨成像和相干的纳米区域电子衍射技术表征了样品结构在高能电子束辐照前后的变化.基于实验记录的电子衍射花样得到了样品的原子对分布函数.分析表明,在所制备的准二维无定形结构中,六元环不再是碳原子的主要排列方式,碳原子的各阶最近邻间距相对于完美石墨烯中的值有所偏离并趋向无序;同时还发现,锯齿型的碳链结构不易被破坏,并使得准二维无定形碳结构中还保留了短程有序和可达0.5nm的中程有序.     

金属衬底在石墨烯化学气相沉积生长中的作用

以过渡金属为催化衬底的化学气相沉积法(Chemical Vapor Deposition，CVD)已经可以制备与机械剥离样品相媲美的石墨烯，是实现石墨烯工业应用的关键技术之一。原子尺度理论研究能够帮助我们深刻理解石墨烯生长机理，为实验现象提供合理的解释，并有可能成为将来实验设计的理论指导。本文从理论计算的角度，总结了各种金属衬底在石墨烯CVD生长过程中的各种作用与相应的机理，包括在催化碳源裂解、降低石墨烯成核密度等，催化加快石墨烯快速生长，修复石墨烯生长过程中产生的缺陷，控制外延生长石墨烯的晶格取向，以及在降温过程中石墨烯褶皱与金属表面台阶束的形成过程等。在本文最后，我们对当前石墨烯生长领域中亟需解决的理论问题进行了深入探讨与展望。     

Modeling the optimum conditions for the formation of defect-free CVD graphene on copper melt

The nucleation and growth of nuclei of graphene (graphene islets) on the surfaces of copper melts during catalytic CVD, i.e., the catalytic decomposition of a gas-phase carbon support, is considered. It is shown that on a copper melt the optimum combination of conditions for the preservation of islets with almost perfect hexagonal shape and the necessary conditions of the CVD-process are reached at the same time. The average distance between the islets and the dimensionless parameter that determines changes in the shape of islets is calculated. The maximum rate of decomposition of the carbon support at which this parameter simultaneously promotes the growth of defect-free islets and the maximum possible rate of growth of the graphene monolayer is determined.     

疏水石墨烯水相分散液的制备及电化学性能

通过未添加表面活性剂和稳定剂而得到均匀的石墨烯水相分散液的方法,近来来成为研究的一大热点.本工作通过提高水合肼的用量,来替代表面活性剂或者其它稳定剂的作用,得到了良好的均匀的水相石墨烯分散液,可长期稳定存放,6个月内未发生团聚现象.其Zeta电位低于-32.5 mV(pH值为5.89),原子力显微镜和透射电子显微镜图像表明产物为具有褶皱结构的、六方晶系的单层石墨烯结构,厚度为0.38 nm.XPS分析显示这种方法对于除去羟基和环氧基团起到了有效的作用.利用这种分散液所制备的石墨烯-玻碳电极(GE-GCE)在检测抗坏血酸(AA)和尿酸(UA)时,比普通玻碳电极(GCE)显示出更良好的电化学响应.     

Columnar metallomesogens derived from unsymmetrical pyrazoles

The synthesis and mesomorphism for two series of unsymmetrical pyrazoles and their nickel(II) complexes were described. This is the first example of nickel complexes exhibiting columnar phase. The derivatives with two alkoxy chains exhibited smectic A or smectic C phases; however, all derivatives with four alkoxy chains formed hexagonal columnar phases. In contrast, all nickel(II) complexes 1a formed hexagonal columnar phases. The crystal and molecular structures of 1-(4-propyloxyphenyl)-2-(3-(4-propyloxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)ethanone were determined, and it crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1. The overall molecular shape is considered as rod-shaped. The pyrazole and one phenyl ring were coplanar, however, they were not coplanar with other phenyl ring by a dihedral angle of ca. 66.2°. A dimeric structure formed by an intermolecular H-bond (2.11 Å) and a weak π-π interaction (3.51 Å) was observed, which was probably attributed to the formation of the mesophase. The XRD experiments confirmed their structures of the mesophases.     

QM/MD simulation of SWNT nucleation on transition-metal carbide nanoparticles

The mechanism and kinetics of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) nucleation from Fe- and Ni-carbide nanoparticle precursors have been investigated using quantum chemical molecular dynamics (QM/MD) methods. The dependence of the nucleation mechanism and its kinetics on environmental factors, including temperature and metal-carbide carbon concentration, has also been elucidated. It was observed that SWNT nucleation occurred via three distinct stages, viz. the precipitation of the carbon from the metal-carbide, the formation of a "surface/subsurface" carbide intermediate species, and finally the formation of a nascent sp(2)-hybidrized carbon structure supported by the metal catalyst. The SWNT cap nucleation mechanism itself was unaffected by carbon concentration and/or temperature. However, the kinetics of SWNT nucleation exhibited distinct dependences on these same factors. In particular, SWNT nucleation from Ni(x)C(y) nanoparticles proceeded more favorably compared to nucleation from Fe(x)C(y) nanoparticles. Although SWNT nucleation from Fe(x)C(y) and Ni(x)C(y) nanoparticle precursors occurred via an identical route, the ultimate outcomes of these processes also differed substantially. Explicitly, the Ni(x)-supported sp(2)-hybridized carbon structures tended to encapsulate the catalyst particle itself, whereas the Fe(x)-supported structures tended to form isolated SWNT cap structures on the catalyst surface. These differences in SWNT nucleation kinetics were attributed directly to the relative strengths of the metal-carbon interaction, which also dictates the precipitation of carbon from the nanoparticle bulk and the longevity of the resultant surface/subsurface carbide species. The stability of the surface/subsurface carbide was also influenced by the phase of the nanoparticle itself. The observations agree well with experimentally available data for SWNT growth on iron and nickel catalyst particles.     

Electron impact induced fragmentations of some 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-oxathiolanes

The electron impact induced fragmentations of nine 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-oxathiolanes have been studied by means of exact mass measurement and metastable ion analysis. The ring cleavage almost always takes place so that the C(2)? S and C(5)? O bonds are broken, leading to the most stable products. The nature of the substituents determines the primary fragmentations of molecular ions. Ring cleavage is important only if both substituents are alkyl groups or if the carbon attaching to the ring has an alkyl character. The loss of the substituent becomes the most favourable process if it is attached to the ring through the electron-deficient carbon atom.     

Combined hydrogen production and storage with subsequent carbon crystallization

We provide evidence of low-temperature hydrogen evolution and possible hydrogen trapping in an anthracite coal derivative, formed via reactive ball milling with cyclohexene. No molecular hydrogen is added to the process. Raman-active molecular hydrogen vibrations are apparent in samples at atmospheric conditions (300 K, 1 bar) for samples prepared 1 year previously and stored in ambient air. Hydrogen evolves slowly at room temperature and is accelerated upon sample heating, with a first increase in hydrogen evolution occurring at approximately 60 degrees C. Subsequent chemical modification leads to the observation of crystalline carbons, including nanocrystalline diamond surrounded by graphene ribbons, other sp2-sp3 transition regions, purely graphitic regions, and a previously unidentified crystalline carbon form surrounded by amorphous carbon. The combined evidence for hydrogen trapping and carbon crystallization suggests hydrogen-induced crystallization of the amorphous carbon materials, as metastable hydrogenated carbons formed via the high-energy milling process rearrange into more thermodynamically stable carbon forms and molecular hydrogen.     

第一性原理研究C在Fe(111)表面和次表面的积炭机理

使用密度泛函方法对C原子在Fe(111)表面吸附团聚和次表层的吸附扩散进行了研究。在炭覆盖度θ_C <1 ML时,C主要以孤立的原子态存在并导致表面重构;1 ML≤θ_C ≤2 ML,"mC₂+nC"为主要的吸附形式;θ_C≥2 ML时,复杂的吸附形态比如碳链和岛状碳团簇开始生成。这些复杂岛状碳团簇是Fe(111)表面石墨沉积或碳纳米管生长的成核中心。在次表层,C原子在八面体位稳定存在。C在表面的迁移能垒为0.45 eV,由表面迁移到次表面的的能垒为0.73 eV。虽然C₂团簇的生成是热力学有利的,但是C向次表层的迁移动力学上占优。     

Electronic structures and bonding of graphyne sheet and its BN analog

Using density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation for exchange and correlation, we present theoretical analysis of the electronic structure of recently synthesized graphyne and its boron nitride analog (labeled as BN-yne). The former is composed of hexagonal carbon rings joined by C-chains, while the latter is composed of hexagonal BN rings joined by C-chains. We have explored the nature of bonding and energy band structure of these unique systems characterized by sp and sp(2) bonding. Both graphyne and BN-yne are found to be direct bandgap semiconductors. The bandgap can be modulated by changing the size of hexagonal ring and the length of carbon chain, providing more flexibilities of energy band engineering for device applications. The present study sheds theoretical insight on better understanding of the properties of the novel carbon-based 2D structures beyond the graphene sheet.     

Gadolinium DOTA chelates featuring alkyne groups directly grafted on the tetraaza macrocyclic ring: synthesis, relaxation properties, "click" reaction, and high-relaxivity micelles

This paper reports on the synthesis and relaxivity properties of tetraacetic DOTA-type chelating agents featuring one or two alkyne groups directly grafted on the tetraaza macrocyclic ring and available for "click" reactions with azide-bearing substrates. The racemic DOTAma ligand bearing one alkyne group was obtained by a bisaminal template route. The same approach was used to prepare ligand DOTAda substituted by two alkyne groups located on two adjacent carbon atoms. The S,S enantiomer of DOTAda was also prepared by a "crab-like" condensation. This ligand is the first example of a DOTA derivative featuring two reactive functions adjacent to each other on the macrocyclic ring. A triacetic monoalkyne ligand (DO3ma) was also synthesized for comparison purposes. NMR studies indicate that the Yb(III) chelates of DOTAma and DOTAda adopt two conformations in solutions in which the tetraaza ring is rigidified. The hydration state of the Eu(III) chelates was determined by luminescence spectroscopy, and the water exchange time of the Gd(III) complexes was measured by (17)O NMR. Ring substitution accelerates the water exchange. These data were used to interpret nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion curves of the Gd(III) chelates. Two long aliphatic chains have been added to DOTAda by a "click" procedure to form the (C18)(2)DOTAda ligand. The corresponding Gd(III) complex forms micelles of unusually high relaxivity presumably because of the close proximity of the aliphatic chains on the macrocyclic ring that ensures a rigid double anchoring into the micelles.     

具有SiC缓冲层的Si衬底上直接沉积碳原子生长石墨烯

石墨烯是近年发现的一种新型多功能材料.在合适的衬底上制备石墨烯成为目前材料制备的一大挑战.本文利用分子束外延(MBE)设备,在Si 衬底上生长高质量的SiC 缓冲层,然后利用直接沉积C原子的方法生长石墨烯,并通过反射式高能电子衍射(RHEED)、拉曼(Raman)光谱和近边X 射线吸收精细结构谱(NEXAFS)等实验技术对不同衬底温度(800、900、1000、1100 °C)生长的薄膜进行结构表征.实验结果表明,在以上衬底温度下都能生长出具有乱层堆垛结构的石墨烯薄膜.当衬底温度升高时,碳原子的活性增强,其成键的能力也增大,从而使形成的石墨烯结晶质量提高.衬底温度为1000 °C时结晶质量最好.其原因可能是当衬底温度较低时,碳原子活性太低不足以形成有序的六方C-sp2环.但过高的衬底温度会使SiC 缓冲层的孔洞缺陷增加,衬底的Si 原子有可能获得足够的能量穿过SiC薄膜的孔洞扩散到衬底表面,与沉积的碳原子反应生成无序的SiC,这一方面会减弱石墨烯的生长,另一方面也会使石墨烯的结晶质量变差.     

Further studies on the biosynthesis of the manumycin-type antibiotic, asukamycin, and the chemical synthesis of protoasukamycin

Asukamycin (2), a metabolite of Streptomyces nodosus ssp. asukaensis ATCC 29757 and a member of the manumycin family of antibiotics, is assembled from three components, an "upper" polyketide chain initiated by cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, a "lower" polyketide chain initiated by the novel starter unit, 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-AHBA), and a cyclized 5-aminolevulinic acid moiety, 2-amino-3-hydroxycyclopent-2-enone (C(5)N unit). To shed light on the order in which these components are assembled, we synthesized in labeled form various potential intermediates and evaluated their incorporation into 2. The assembly of the molecular framework of 2 from 3,4-AHBA and cyclohexanecarboxylic acid apparently does not involve free, unactivated intermediates. However, protoasukamycin (12), the total synthesis of which is reported, was efficiently converted into 2, demonstrating that the modification of the aromatic ring to the epoxyquinol structure is the terminal step in the biosynthesis. The results suggest that the two polyketide chains are synthesized separately and that the "upper" chain must be connected to the "lower" polyketide chain before the C(5)N unit.     

Ultrasonic approach for formation of erbium oxide nanoparticles with variable geometries

Ultrasound (20 kHz, 29 W·cm(-2)) is employed to form three types of erbium oxide nanoparticles in the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a template material in water. The nanoparticles are (i) erbium carboxioxide nanoparticles deposited on the external walls of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and Er(2)O(3) in the bulk with (ii) hexagonal and (iii) spherical geometries. Each type of ultrasonically formed nanoparticle reveals Er(3+) photoluminescence from crystal lattice. The main advantage of the erbium carboxioxide nanoparticles on the carbon nanotubes is the electromagnetic emission in the visible region, which is new and not examined up to the present date. On the other hand, the photoluminescence of hexagonal erbium oxide nanoparticles is long-lived (μs) and enables the higher energy transition ((4)S(3/2)-(4)I(15/2)), which is not observed for spherical nanoparticles. Our work is unique because it combines for the first time spectroscopy of Er(3+) electronic transitions in the host crystal lattices of nanoparticles with the geometry established by ultrasound in aqueous solution of carbon nanotubes employed as a template material. The work can be of great interest for "green" chemistry synthesis of photoluminescent nanoparticles in water.     

T-shaped ionic liquid crystals based on the imidazolium motif: exploring substitution of the C-2 imidazolium carbon atom

In this contribution the first examples of so‐called rigid‐core, T‐shaped imidazolium ionic liquid crystals, in which the C‐2 atom of the imidazolium ring is substituted with an aryl moiety decorated with one or two alkoxy chains, are described. The length of the alkoxy chain(s) was varied from six to eighteen carbon atoms (n=6, 10, 14–18). Whereas the compounds with one long alkoxy chain display only smectic A phases, the salts containing two alkoxy chains exhibit smectic A, multicontinuous cubic, as well as hexagonal columnar phases, as evidenced by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X‐ray diffraction. Structural models are proposed for the self‐assembly of the molecules within the mesophases. The imidazolium head groups and the iodide counterions were found to adopt a peculiar orientation in the central part of the columns of the hexagonal columnar phases. The enantiotropic cubic phase shown by the 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐[3,4‐bis(pentadecyloxy)phenyl]imidazolium iodide salt has a multicontinuous Pm$\bar 3In this contribution the first examples of so-called rigid-core, T-shaped imidazolium ionic liquid crystals, in which the C-2 atom of the imidazolium ring is substituted with an aryl moiety decorated with one or two alkoxy chains, are described. The length of the alkoxy chain(s) was varied from six to eighteen carbon atoms (n=6, 10, 14-18). Whereas the compounds with one long alkoxy chain display only smectic A phases, the salts containing two alkoxy chains exhibit smectic A, multicontinuous cubic, as well as hexagonal columnar phases, as evidenced by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction. Structural models are proposed for the self-assembly of the molecules within the mesophases. The imidazolium head groups and the iodide counterions were found to adopt a peculiar orientation in the central part of the columns of the hexagonal columnar phases. The enantiotropic cubic phase shown by the 1,3-dimethyl-2-[3,4-bis(pentadecyloxy)phenyl]imidazolium iodide salt has a multicontinuous Pm ?3m structure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a thermotropic cubic mesophase of this symmetry.     

A low cost route to hexagonal mesostructured carbon molecular sieves

A mesoporous carbon molecular sieve with a hexagonal framework structure (denoted C-MSU-H) has been prepared using a MSU-H silica template that can be assembled from a low cost soluble silicate precursor at near-neutral pH conditions.     

Molecular simulation of cross-nucleation between polymorphs

Recent experiments report that an early nucleating crystalline structure (or polymorph) may nucleate another polymorph. We use molecular dynamics simulations to model this phenomenon known as cross-nucleation. We study the onset of crystallization in a liquid of Lennard-Jones particles cooled at a temperature 22% below the melting temperature. We show that growth proceeds through the successive cross-nucleation of the metastable hexagonal close-packed (hcp) polymorph on the stable face-centered cubic (fcc) polymorph and of the stable fcc polymorph on the metastable hcp polymorph. This finding is in agreement with the experimental results which demonstrated that the cross-nucleation of a stable polymorph on a metastable polymorph is just as likely as the cross-nucleation of a metastable polymorph on a stable polymorph. We then extend our findings established in the case of the homogeneous crystal nucleation to a situation of practical interest, i.e., when a seed of the stable polymorph is used. By studying the crystal growth from the (111) plane of a perfect fcc crystal, we show that, again, growth proceeds through the cross-nucleation of the hcp and fcc structures.     

A Molecular Pillar Approach To Grow Vertical Covalent Organic Framework Nanosheets on Graphene: Hybrid Materials for Energy Storage

Hybrid 2D–2D materials composed of perpendicularly oriented covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and graphene were prepared and tested for energy storage applications. Diboronic acid molecules covalently attached to graphene oxide (GO) were used as nucleation sites for directing vertical growth of COF‐1 nanosheets (v‐COF‐GO). The hybrid material has a forest of COF‐1 nanosheets with a thickness of 3 to 15 nm in edge‐on orientation relative to GO. The reaction performed without molecular pillars resulted in uncontrollable growth of thick COF‐1 platelets parallel to the surface of GO. The v‐COF‐GO was converted into a conductive carbon material preserving the nanostructure of precursor with ultrathin porous carbon nanosheets grafted to graphene in edge‐on orientation. It was demonstrated as a high‐performance electrode material for supercapacitors. The molecular pillar approach can be used for preparation of many other 2D‐2D materials with control of their relative orientation.