Efficient and Scalable Production of 2D Material Dispersions using Hexahydroxytriphenylene as a Versatile Exfoliant and Dispersant

Thin‐layer 2D materials have been attracting enormous interest, and various processes have been investigated to obtain these materials efficiently. In view of their practical applications, the most desirable source for the preparation of these thin‐layer materials is the pristine bulk materials with stacked layers, such as pristine graphite. There are many options in terms of conditions for the exfoliation of thin‐layer materials, and these include wet and dry processes, with or without additives, and the kind of solvent. In this context, we found that the versatile exfoliant hexahydroxytriphenylene works efficiently for the exfoliation of typical 2D materials such as graphene, MoS₂, and hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) by both wet and dry processes by using sonication and ball milling, respectively, in aqueous and organic solvents. As for graphene, stable dispersions with relatively high concentrations (up to 0.28 mg mL^?1) in water and tetrahydrofuran were obtained from graphite in the presence of hexahydroxytriphenylene by a wet process with the use of bath sonication and by a dry process involving ball milling. Especially, most of the graphite was exfoliated and dispersed as thin‐layer graphene in both aqueous and organic solvents through ball milling, even on a large scale (47–86 % yield). In addition, the exfoliant was easily removed from the precipitated composite by heat treatment without disturbing the graphene structure. Bulk MoS₂ and h‐BN were also exfoliated by both wet and dry processes. Similar to graphene, dispersions of MoS₂ and h‐BN of high concentrations in water and DMF were produced in high yields through ball milling.     

Influence of Homogenizing Methodology on Mechanical and Tribological Performance of Powder Metallurgy Processed Titanium Composites Reinforced by Graphene Nanoplatelets

In the present work, 0.25 wt%GNP-Ti composites were prepared through powder metallurgy route by adopting three types of mixing modes to investigate the extent of mixing on the mechanical and tribological properties. Dry ball milling, wet ball milling, and rotator mixing were independently employed to homogenize the composite constituents. Three types of composite powders obtained were subsequently sintered into composite pellets by cold compaction followed by vacuum sintering. Morphological investigation of composite powders performed by SEM revealed better homogenization of GNPs in Ti matrix for dry ball milled composite powder, whereas wet ball milled and rotator mixed composite powders showed aggregation and bundling of GNPs. Micro Vickers hardness of composites produced via dry ball milling is 4.56% and 15.7% higher than wet ball milled and rotator mixed samples, respectively. Wear test performed by pin-on-disk tribometer showed higher wear loss for wet ball milled and rotator mixed composites in comparison to dry ball milled.     

Synthesis of Ultrafine Mesoporous Tungsten Carbide by High‐energy Ball Milling and Its Electrocatalytic Activity for Methanol Oxidation

Ultrafine mesoporous tungsten carbide (WC) was prepared from as‐synthesized mesoporous WC using high‐energy ball milling treatment. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption‐desorption techniques were used to characterize the samples. Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface areas of WC samples increased with the increasing ball milling time and kept constant at 10–11 m²·g^?1 for over 9 h. The electrocatalytic properties of methanol electro‐oxidation at WC powder microelectrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and quasi‐steady‐state polarization techniques. The results reveal that ball‐milled WC exhibits higher activity for methanol electro‐oxidation than as‐synthesized mesoporous WC. The suitability of ball‐milled WC for methanol electro‐oxidation is better than platinum (Pt) micro‐disk, although the current peak is not as high as the Pt micro‐disk. Moreover, increasing the methanol concentration and reaction temperature promotes methanol electro‐oxidation on ultrafine mesoporous WC.     

Phase Transformation Mechanism of Graphite-Turbostratic Graphite in the Course of Mechanical Grinding

IntroductionSome industrially- widely- used carbon materi-als,such as Pan- based carbon fiber,glassy car-bon,carbon black and carbon film,have a tur-bostratic graphitic structure[1— 4] . This structure isbased on the same hexagonal plane of the carbonatoms as graphitic crystalline. The difference be-tween atoms lies in the random translations and ro-tations which destroy the character of three dimen-sional ordering. Turbostratic graphite materials aremostly composed of non graphitic carbon. …     

The morphology of ceramic phases in BxC-SiC-Si infiltrated composites

The present communication is concerned with the effect of the carbon source on the morphology of reaction bonded boron carbide (B₄C). Molten silicon reacts strongly and rapidly with free carbon to form large, faceted, regular polygon-shaped SiC particles, usually embedded in residual silicon pools. In the absence of free carbon, the formation of SiC relies on carbon that originates from within the boron carbide particles. Examination of the reaction bonded boron carbide revealed a core-rim microstructure consisting of boron carbide particles surrounded by secondary boron carbide containing some dissolved silicon. This microstructure is generated as the outcome of a dissolution-precipitation process. In the course of the infiltration process molten Si dissolves some boron carbide until its saturation with B and C. Subsequently, precipitation of secondary boron carbide enriched with boron and silicon takes place. In parallel, elongated, strongly twinned, faceted SiC particles are generated by rapid growth along preferred crystallographic directions. This sequence of events is supported by X-ray diffraction and microcompositional analysis and well accounted for by the thermodynamic analysis of the ternary B-C-Si system.     

A New Route to High Yield Mesostructure Boron Carbide Powder from SiC/Si3N4 Whiskers

Boric acid/Mg (magnesiothermic or metal sintering aid)/C (activated carbon)/N₂ or Ar (atmosphere)/additives (mesoporous SiO₂ or mesoporous SiC or SiC/Si₃N₄ whiskers) systems were used in the one‐step synthesis of mesostructured B₄C (221.04 m²/g). In this study, a mixture of the active precursors was allowed to react via a self‐sustaining reaction (high‐energy ball milling process). Also, the properties of the samples prepared using powdered activated carbon (PAC) and SiC/Si₃N₄ whiskers (concentration in the range 5–10 wt%) as sources of carbon were investigated. X‐ray diffraction results proved the presence of crystalline boron carbide in the peak positions of B₄C (B₁₂C₃). The advantage of the present route for yielding mesostructured B₄C powder seems to be limited by the growth of carbide crystals. This restriction is believed to be imposed by a lack of whisker additives around the pores where B₄C crystals grow. The results also show that the best mesoporous additive for the synthesis of nanoscale boron carbide is mesoporous SiC. The effect of the concentration of CO (reduction of α‐Fe₂O₃ to Fe by CO) on the B₄C synthesis suggests that, in addition to the concentration of CO, the pressure of the N₂ atmosphere is an important factor in the synthesis of mesostructured B₄C.     

The effect of the sintering atmosphere on the densification of B4C ceramics

Densification of boron carbide during sintering may be improved by a two-stage process, namely heating to 2000°C under vacuum and sintering at 2190°C under argon. This sintering regime allows achieving a relative density of the ceramic bodies fabricated from a fine powder higher than 95%. The nitrogen treatment of the boron carbide phase at 1900°C leads to the formation of the BN phase and precipitation of graphite. Vacuum treatment of these samples at 2000°C leads to decomposition of the boron nitride phase. The liberated free boron may again react with graphite to form in situ boron carbide particles. The experimental investigations of the sintering behavior of the boron carbide phase under various atmospheres supported the thermodynamic predictions regarding the phase transformation. No evidence, however, was found for enhanced sintering under a nitrogen atmosphere.     

Gravimetric determination of free carbon and silicon carbide in silica fume

Silica fume is formed as a by-product in the manufacture of silicon from quartzite. This paper describes an analytical method for the determination of free carbon and silicon carbide in silica fume. The silicon carbide was determined after removal of free carbon, amorphous silica, crystalline silica, graphite and silicon from the fume. The free carbon content was found to vary from 2 to 8% while the silicon carbide content ranged from 1 to 5%. X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy were used to validate the steps used in the analytical procedure. The purpose of determining the free carbon and silicon carbide content of the fume is to help understand the efficiency of the reduction process and mechanism of the reaction.     

碳化硼纳米线的制备和结构

以碳纳米管为模板，通过加热碳纳米管与硼粉的混合物，获得了笔直的硼碳纳米线.对纳米线的结构和成分进行研究，结果表明纳米线主要为B4C纳米线.在部分B4C纳米线的端部存在Ni颗粒，这些端部具有Ni颗粒的纳米线构成了纳米磁针.讨论了B4C纳米线的生长机制，B4C纳米线的生长主要为硼原子在碳纳米管中扩散并发生化学反应，使得碳纳米管晶格结构发生重组，形成B4C纳米线.反应后，硼原子部分取代了碳纳米管中碳原子，修补了碳纳米管中的晶格缺陷，获得了形态笔直的B4C纳米线.     

球磨干湿环境对原位硫掺杂氮化碳可见光催化性能的影响

以硫脲为原料,通过简单绿色的球磨法提高原位硫掺杂g-C3N4的光催化活性。利用X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、元素分析、X射线光电子能谱、紫外-可见漫反射光谱及光致发光光谱等测试方法对其结构和光学特性进行表征。以亚甲基蓝为目标污染物,评价了在不同物料溶剂比下球磨的硫掺杂g-C3N4的可见光催化性能。结果表明,湿式球磨后的硫掺杂g-C3N4光催化剂比表面积增大,反应活性位点的数量增加,带隙宽度也适当增大,氧化还原能力增强。另外,湿式球磨后样品的表面缺陷减少,聚合度增加,促进了光生电子-空穴的有效分离和转移,从而降低其复合率,协同提高了硫掺杂g-C3N4的可见光催化性能。湿式球磨后的样品在可见光照射下对亚甲基蓝的降解速率分别比未球磨的样品和干式球磨后的样品提高了1.5和3.6倍。     

石墨基底对碳/碳化硼复合纳米绳形成的影响

利用邻碳硼烷(C₂H₁₂B₁₀)作为反应原料,二茂铁(C₁₀H₁₀Fe)作为催化剂,通过化学气相沉积法在石墨基片上生长出一种新颖的碳化硼纳米绳。用X射线衍射仪分析纳米绳的相结构,用场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)和高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)观察纳米绳的微观形貌和结构,结果发现纳米绳的中心部分是碳化硼纳米线,在线的表面有非晶碳绳结,故纳米绳为碳/碳化硼复合物。研究了绳状产物的生长机理,表明石墨基片对产物的形成有至关重要的作用。     

Compacts of Boron-Doped Synthetic Diamond: Lowering of Synthesis Temperature and Its Effect on the Doping Level and Electrochemical Behavior

Substituting of metal (Co, Ni) borides for boron carbide in the boron carbide–graphite growth system for the process of diamond growth in the region of diamond thermodynamic stability allowed lowering the synthesis temperature for the electrodes of this new electrode material―boron-doped diamond compacts―significantly (by ~1000°C) without any deterioration of their electrochemical properties. On the other hand, using of amorphous boron with finer grain as compared with the boron carbide, mixed with graphite, results in a marked increase of the electrodes’ electrochemical efficiency, due to increase in their roughness after the chemical removing of boron-containing inclusions from their surfaces. Thus obtained compact electrodes have wide potential window and low background current in supporting electrolytes, they are well reproducible. Special features of their electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are similar to those of the recently studied compacts synthesized on the basis of boron carbide.     

Determination of boron concentration in borosilicate glass,boron carbide and graphite samples by conventional wet-chemical and nuclear analytical methods

Boron is an important element in nuclear technology. A comparative study was carried out for the determination of boron in borosilicate glass, boron carbide and graphite samples by wet-chemical and nuclear analytical methods. Wet chemical methods namely titrimetry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry and nuclear analytical methods namely Particle Induced Gamma-Ray Emission and Nuclear Reaction Analysis were used. Boron concentrations were in trace (mg kg^?1) level in graphite and percentage level in borosilicate glass and boron carbide.     

Comparison between preparative methodologies of nanostructured carbon nitride and their use as selective photocatalysts in water suspension

Carbon nitride photocatalysts have been prepared by different methodologies, such as chemical ultrasonic irradiation (sonochemical treatment), hydrothermal and ball milling and thermoexfoliation, and have been used for the selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) to form 2,5-furandicarboxyaldehyde (FDC) in water suspension both under UV and natural solar irradiation. The physico-chemical features of the photocatalysts have been studied by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and specific surface area measurements. The results indicate that exfoliation of carbon nitrides can increase the conversion of HMF and the selectivity to FDC. In particular, samples exfoliated by both thermal and acidic ultrasonic irradiation treatments showed the best photocatalytic performance.     

A facile preparation of nanocrystalline Mo2C from graphite or carbon nanotubes

Nanocrystalline Mo₂C powders were successfully synthesized at 500 °C by reacting molybdenum chloride (MoCl₅) with C (graphite or carbon nanotube) in metallic sodium medium. X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) and surface area analyzer (BET method) were used to characterize the samples. Experiments reveal that the carbon source used for the carbide synthesis has a great effect on the particle size and the surface area of the samples. When micro-sized graphite was used as C source the obtained nanocrystalline Mo₂C powder consists of particles of 30∼100 nm, with a surface area of 2.311 m²/g. When carbon nanotubes were used as C source, the as-synthesized Mo₂C sample is composed of particles of 20∼50 nm, with a surface area of 23.458 m²/g, which is an order of magnitude larger than that of the carbide prepared from the graphite.     

The activation of MgCl2-supported ziegler-natta catalysts: A structural investigation

A mathematical procedure for the investigation of the lattice disorder by stacking faults in polycrystalline solids has been used in studying samples of MgCl₂ activated by ball milling for various times in the presence of TiCl₄. These samples have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and by measurements of surface area, crystallite dimensions, Ti content after washing and catalytic activity in the polymerization of ethylene.A good relationship has been confirmed between activation time and activity; furthermore, the structural variations introduced by ball milling are mainly associated with rotational disorder of the Cl-Mg-Cl triple layers. Nevertheless, the analysis by X-ray diffraction is not unequivocal about the relationships between structure and activity: other significant parameters, such as the surface area and the porosity, are probably very important.     

One Step Conversion of Wheat Straw to Sugars by Simultaneous Ball Milling, Mild Acid, and Fungus Penicillium simplicissimum Treatment

Wheat straw is one of the major lignocellulosic plant residues in many countries including China. An attractive alternative is the utilization of wheat straw for bioethanol production. This article mainly studies a simple one-step wet milling with Penicillium simplicissimum and weak acid to hydrolysis of wheat straw. The optimal condition for hydrolysis was ball milling 48?h in citrate solvent (pH?=?4) with P. simplicissimum H5 at the speed of 500?rpm and the yield of sugar increased with increased milling time. Corresponding structure transformations before and after milling analyzed by X-ray diffraction, transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy clearly indicated that this combined treatment could be attributed to the crystalline and chemical structure changes of cellulose in wheat straw during ball milling. This combined treatment of ball milling, mild acid, and fungus hydrolysis enabled the conversion of the wheat straw. Compared with traditional method of ball milling, this work showed a more simple, novel, and environmentally friendly way in mechanochemical treatment of wheat straw.     

导热膨胀石墨/聚醚酰亚胺复合材料的制备与性能

利用膨胀石墨(EG)经高温处理后比表面积大的特点, 以膨胀石墨作为导热填料, 通过球磨和热模压方法制备了膨胀石墨/聚醚酰亚胺(PEI)导热复合材料, 并对其加工过程、 微观形貌、 热性能和导热性能进行了研究. 结果表明, 球磨处理可以打破膨胀石墨的“泡沫”状态并减少石墨纳米片间的间隙, 热压可以诱使和促进石墨纳米片沿着水平方向排列和取向, 从而显著提升了复合材料的平面内导热性能. 当膨胀石墨在复合材料中的质量分数为20%时, EG/PEI复合材料的面内导热系数为2.38 W?m^?1?K^?1. 与PEI相比, 复合材料导热系数的增幅约为12倍. 所制备的EG/PEI复合材料均具有良好的散热能力、 较好的热稳定性和较高的储能模量, 是一种综合性能优异的导热材料.     

Boron carbide-copper infiltrated cermets

Porous boron carbide preforms, prepared with and without excess carbon, were infiltrated with a Cu-Si alloy. Contrary to unalloyed copper, the Cu-Si alloy wets and infiltrates the porous preforms. A thermodynamic analysis of the B-C-Cu-Si system indicated that a Si content of the alloy above 15 at% leads to the formation of SiC. At higher Si content, the composition of boron carbide in contact with the melt also changes towards higher boron content. Metallographic examination validated these conclusions. The SiC compound forms preferentially around the free carbon particles in preforms containing excess carbon, and also in the vicinity of carbide that did not contain any excess carbon. Eventually, SiC, a product of the reaction between the carbide and the melt, forms a continuous barrier that impedes completion of the reaction and accounts for the limited increase of hardness as a result of lengthy heat treatments.     

Exfoliation of graphite by dry ball milling with cellulose

Dry ball milling of graphite with cellulose and related polysaccharides was found effective for exfoliation-dispersion of graphene-like carbon. The exfoliation behavior was found to depend strongly on the polymer species; namely, polysaccharides are much more effective than thermoplastic polymers. The compression-molded slabs from co-milled powder with cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose showed an electrical percolation threshold of 1.0 % (w/w) or lower. The carbon fraction isolated from milling with carboxymethylcellulose was water-dispersible, containing single- to few-layer graphenes. This method can provide facile and solventless graphene exfoliation and mechanical alloying with polymers.