Directional Charge Transport in Layered Two‐Dimensional Triazine‐Based Graphitic Carbon Nitride

Triazine‐based graphitic carbon nitride (TGCN) is the most recent addition to the family of graphene‐type, two‐dimensional, and metal‐free materials. Although hailed as a promising low‐band‐gap semiconductor for electronic applications, so far, only its structure and optical properties have been known. Here, we combine direction‐dependent electrical measurements and time‐resolved optical spectroscopy to determine the macroscopic conductivity and microscopic charge‐carrier mobilities in this layered material “beyond graphene”. Electrical conductivity along the basal plane of TGCN is 65 times lower than through the stacked layers, as opposed to graphite. Furthermore, we develop a model for this charge‐transport behavior based on observed carrier dynamics and random‐walk simulations. Our combined methods provide a path towards intrinsic charge transport in a direction‐dependent layered semiconductor for applications in field‐effect transistors (FETs) and sensors.     

Friedel–Crafts Acylation on Graphene

There is an excitement around graphene as a promising new material for nanotechnological and nanoarchitectonic applications. Despite the low chemical reactivity of graphene, chemical functionalization remains a prominent and viable solution to tailor its chemical, physical, and electronic properties. Herein, we report the covalent functionalization of reduced graphene oxide through Friedel–Crafts reactions under mild conditions of polyphosphoric-acid/phosphorus-pentoxide and 4-aminobenzoic acid. Successful functionalization was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The success of the Friedel–Crafts reaction provides an important expansion of the synthetic “toolbox” for future modifications of graphene towards the specific needs of different applications.     

Molecularly defined graphitic interface toward proton manipulation

Proton plays a critical role in electrochemical systems to control electrochemical reactivity or isotopic enrichment. Graphene is intensively investigated owing to its unique electronic structure and device fabrication. Through the structural tunability of graphitic materials by chemical or physical modification of the surface, graphene is revealed to be an ideal material for proton manipulation. Here, we review the use of graphene or graphitic materials toward the manipulation of proton with regard to the following three points. (1) Electronic properties of graphene: The electronic band structure of graphene can be modified by metal contacts owing to the interaction with a metal surface. (2) Molecular control of graphitic interface: The chemical structure of graphene can be modified, as is done in molecular chemistry, and can be used as a catalytic platform. (3) Proton conduction by graphene: Proton transport through a graphene layer occurs with a unique mechanism such as tunneling. We provide a perspective on the use of graphitic materials toward controlling the behavior of protons on the basis of the aforementioned points. From the above, graphene can be used as a platform for proton manipulation.     

Graphene Sheet Orientation of Parent Material Exhibits Dramatic Influence on Graphene Properties

The production of graphene from various sources has garnered much attention in recent years with the development of methods that range from “bottom‐up” to “top‐down” approaches. The top‐down approach often requires thermal treatment to obtain a few‐layered and lowly oxygenated graphene sheets. Herein, we demonstrate the production of graphene through oxidation and thermal‐reduction/exfoliation of two sources of differently orientated graphene sheets: multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and stacked graphene nanofibers (SGNFs). These two carbon‐nanofiber‐like materials have similar axial (length: 5–9 μm) and lateral dimensions (diameter: about 100 nm). We demonstrate that, whereas SGNFs exfoliate along the lateral plane between adjacent graphene sheets, carbon nanotubes exfoliate along its longitudinal axis and leads to opening of the carbon nanotubes owing to the built‐in strain. Subsequent thermal exfoliation leads to graphene materials that have, despite the fact that their parent materials exhibited similar dimensions, dramatically different proportions and, consequently, materials properties. Graphene that was prepared from MWCNTs exhibited dimensions of about 5000×300 nm, whereas graphene that was prepared from SGNFs exhibited sheets with dimensions of about 50×50 nm. The density of defects and oxygen‐containing groups on these materials are dramatically different, as are the electrochemical properties. We performed morphological, structural, and electrochemical characterization based on TEM, SEM, high‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis on the stepwise conversion of the target source into the exfoliated graphene. Morphological and structural characterization indicated the successful chemical and thermal treatment of the materials. Our findings have shown that the orientation of the graphene sheets in starting materials has a dramatic influence on their chemical, material, and electrochemical properties.     

Assembly and application advancement of organic‐functionalized graphene‐based materials: A review

Owing to the remarkable physicochemical properties such as hydrophobicity, conductivity, elasticity, and light weight, graphene‐based materials have emerged as one of the most appealing carbon allotropes in materials science and chemical engineering. Unfortunately, pristine graphene materials lack functional groups for further modification, severely hindering their practical applications. To render graphene materials with special characters for different applications, graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide has been functionalized with different organic agents and assembled together, via covalent binding and various noncovalent forces such as π–π interaction, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding. In this review, we briefly discuss the state‐of‐the‐art synthetic strategies and properties of organic‐functionalized graphene‐based materials, and then, present the prospective applications of organic‐functionalized graphene‐based materials in sample preparation.     

Chemistry with Graphene and Graphene Oxide—Challenges for Synthetic Chemists

The chemical production of graphene as well as its controlled wet chemical modification is a challenge for synthetic chemists. Furthermore, the characterization of reaction products requires sophisticated analytical methods. In this Review we first describe the structure of graphene and graphene oxide and then outline the most important synthetic methods that are used for the production of these carbon‐based nanomaterials. We summarize the state‐of‐the‐art for their chemical functionalization by noncovalent and covalent approaches. We put special emphasis on the differentiation of the terms graphite, graphene, graphite oxide, and graphene oxide. An improved fundamental knowledge of the structure and the chemical properties of graphene and graphene oxide is an important prerequisite for the development of practical applications.     

Effects on the aromatic character of DNA/RNA nucleobases due to its adsorption onto graphene

In the last years, experimental/theoretical studies have shown that graphene has a strong affinity toward nucleobases, serving as a promising nanomaterial for self‐assembly, sensing, and/or sequencing of DNA/RNA constituents. Then, a complete picture of the properties of the nucleobase–graphene systems is required for its use in technological applications. This work describes a detailed quantum chemical analysis of the aromaticity of adsorbed nucleobases on graphene, comparing between aromaticity indexes based on magnetic, geometry, electron density, and electron delocalization properties of graphene–nucleobase systems. Contrary to the stated by magnetic‐based aromaticity criteria (such as nucleus‐independent chemical shifts), it is proved that the aromatic character of nucleobases is not increased/decreased upon binding on graphene. Therefore, magnetic aromaticity criteria are not recommended to analyze aromaticity in related systems, unless a fragmented scheme be adopted. Finally, these results are expected to expand the knowledge about the understanding of biomolecules‐graphene interactions.     

Stimulus‐Responsive Metal–Organic Frameworks

Materials that can recognize the changes in their local environment and respond by altering their inherent physical and/or chemical properties are strong candidates for future “smart” technology materials. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years owing to their designable architecture, host–guest chemistry, and softness as porous materials. Despite this fact, studies on the tuning of the properties of MOFs by external stimuli are still rare. This review highlights the recent developments in the field of stimulus‐responsive MOFs or so‐called smart MOFs. In particular, the various stimuli used and the utility of stimulus‐responsive smart MOFs for various applications such as gas storage and separation, sensing, clean energy, catalysis, molecular motors, and biomedical applications are highlighted by using representative examples. Future directions in the developments of stimulus‐responsive smart MOFs and their applications are proposed from a personal perspective.     

Fabrication of Boron Nitride Nanosheets by Exfoliation

Nanomaterials with layered structures, with their intriguing properties, are of great research interest nowadays. As one of the primary two‐dimensional nanomaterials, the hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS, also called white graphene), which is an analogue of graphene, possesses various attractive properties, such as high intrinsic thermal conductivity, excellent chemical and thermal stability, and electrical insulation properties. After being discovered, it has been one of the most intensively studied two‐dimensional non‐carbon nanomaterials and has been applied in a wide range of applications. To support the exploration of applications of BNNSs, exfoliation, as one of the most promising approaches to realize large‐scale production of BNNSs, has been intensively investigated. In this review, methods to yield BNNSs by exfoliation will be summarized and compared with other potential fabrication methods of BNNSs. In addition, the future prospects of the exfoliation of h‐BN will also be discussed.     

Recent Advances in Two-dimensional Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion

With the increased energy demand,developing renewable and clean energy technologies becomes more and more significant to mitigate climate warming and alleviate the environmental pollution.The key point is design and synthesis of low cost and efficient materials for a wide variety of electrochemical reactions.Over the past ten years,two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials that graphene represents have been paid much attention as a class of the most promising candidates for heterogeneous electrocatalysts in electrochemical storage and conversion.Their unique properties,such as good chemical stability,good flexibility,and good electronic properties,along with their nanosized thickness and large specific area,make them exhibit comprehensively good performances for energy storage and conversion.Here,we present an overview on the recent advances in electrochemical applications of graphene,graphdiyne,transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),and MXenes for supercapacitors(SCs),oxygen reduction reaction(ORR),and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).     

A Versatile Platform of 2‐(3,4‐Dihydroxyphenyl) Pyrrolidine Grafted Graphene for Preparation of Various Graphene‐derived Materials

Covalent functionalization has proven an effective solution for graphene to realize its revolutionary potential in real applications, whereas the platform strategy (a reactive graphene‐based material acting as the platform to undergo post‐reactions for generation of various graphene‐derived materials) is an attractive option to execute efficiently such a task. This contribution demonstrates that 2‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl) pyrrolidine (DHPP) grafted graphene, G‐OH, is a competent platform. Four typical but not exclusive graphene‐derived materials have been prepared from G‐OH by using the chemical virtue of each DHPP unit having three categories totaling six reactive sites. The controlled feature of 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition for the synthesis of G‐OH ensures that the electronic structure and properties of pristine graphene are succeeded largely by G‐OH and thus its derivatives. A promising alternative to graphene oxide, which has been widely used as a platform to prepare the graphene‐derived materials but suffers from some intrinsic disadvantages, is thus developed.     

Graphene‐Based Composite with γ‐Fe2O3 Nanoparticle for the High‐Performance Removal of Endocrine‐Disrupting Compounds from Water

Graphene is a 2D sp²‐hybridized carbon sheet and an ideal material for the adsorption‐based separation of organic pollutants. However, such potential applications of graphene are largely limited, owing to their poor solubility and extensive aggregation properties through graphene? graphene interactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of graphene‐based composites with γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle for the high‐performance removal of endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDC) from water. The γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles partially inhibit these graphene? graphene interactions and offer water dispersibility of the composite without compromising much of the high surface area of graphene. In their dispersed form, the graphene component offers the efficient adsorption of EDC, whilst the magnetic iron‐oxide component offers easier magnetic separation of adsorbed EDC.     

“Metal‐Free” Catalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Heteroatom‐Doped Graphene is Caused by Trace Metal Impurities

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of high industrial importance. There is a large body of literature showing that metal‐based catalytic nanoparticles (e.g. Co, Mn, Fe or hybrid Mn/Co‐based nanoparticles) supported on graphene act as efficient catalysts for the ORR. A significant research effort is also directed to the so‐called “metal‐free” oxygen reduction reaction on heteroatom‐doped graphene surfaces. While such studies of the ORR on nonmetallic heteroatom‐doped graphene are advertised as “metal‐free” there is typically no sufficient effort to characterize the doped materials to verify that they are indeed free of any trace metal. Here we argue that the claimed “metal‐free” electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction on heteroatom‐doped graphene is caused by metallic impurities present within the graphene materials.     

Synthesis of Crystalline Chalcogenides in Ionic Liquids

Crystalline chalcogenides belong to the most promising class of materials. In addition to dense solid‐state structures, they may form molecular cluster arrangements and networks with high porosity, as in the so‐called “zeotype” chalcogenidometalates. The high structural diversity comes along with interesting physical properties such as semi‐/photoconductivity, ion transport capability, molecular trapping potential, as well as chemical and catalytic activity. The great interest in the development of new and tailored chalcogenides has provoked a continuous search for new and better synthesis strategies over the years. The trend has clearly been towards lower temperatures for both economic and ecological reasons as well as for better reaction control. This led to the application of ionic liquids as a designer‐like medium for materials synthesis. In this Review, we summarize recent developments and present a survey of different chalcogenide families along with their properties.     

Chemistry of Pentafluorosulfanyl Derivatives and Related Analogs: From Synthesis to Applications

Pentafluorosulfanyl (SF₅)-containing compounds and corresponding analogs are a highly valuable class of fluorine-containing building blocks owing to their unique properties. The reason for that is the set of peculiar and tremendously beneficial characteristics they can impart on molecules once introduced onto them. Despite this, their application in distinct scientific fields remains modest, given the extremely harsh reaction conditions needed to access such compounds. The recent synthetic approaches via S−F, and C−SF₅ bond formation as well as the use of SF₅-containing building blocks embody a “stairway-to-heaven” loophole in the synthesis of otherwise-inaccessible chemical scaffolds only a few years ago. Herein, we report and evaluate the properties of the SF₅ group and analogs, by summarizing synthetic methodologies available to access them as well as following applications in material science and medicinal chemistry since 2015.     

The Nanoparticle Size Effect in Graphene Cutting: A “Pac‐Man” Mechanism

Metal‐nanoparticle‐catalyzed cutting is a promising way to produce graphene nanostructures with smooth and well‐aligned edges. Using a multiscale simulation approach, we unambiguously identified a “Pac‐Man” cutting mechanism, characterized by the metal nanoparticle “biting off” edge carbon atoms through a synergetic effect of multiple metal atoms. By comparing the reaction rates at different types of edge sites, we found that etching of an entire edge carbon row could be triggered by a single zigzag‐site etching event, which explains the puzzling linear dependence of the overall carbon‐atom etching rate on the nanoparticle surface area observed experimentally. With incorporation of the nanoparticle size effect, the mechanisms revealed herein open a new avenue to improve controllability in graphene cutting.     

The Effect of KOH Treatment on the Chemical Structure and Electrocatalytic Activity of Reduced Graphene Oxide Materials

Reduced graphene oxide (rG‐O)‐based materials have great potential as metal‐free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) owing to their electrical and electrochemical properties and large surface area. Long‐term durability and chemical stability of the catalysts in the presence of electrolytes such as aqueous KOH solution are important for their use in practical applications. In this study, three types of rG‐O and rG‐O‐K (rG‐O after reaction with KOH) materials were synthesized. The chemical structures, surface areas, and catalytic ORR performances of the rG‐O materials were compared with those of the corresponding rG‐O‐K materials. The onset potentials of the rG‐O materials for electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen are almost the same as those of the corresponding rG‐O‐K materials; however, the current density and the number of transferred electrons are significantly reduced. These data show that the catalytic ORR performance of rG‐O‐based materials can be altered by KOH.     

White Graphene undergoes Peroxidase Degradation

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanosheets are emerging as promising 2D materials for different types of applications. However, biodegradation of hBN materials is poorly explored owing to their high chemical inertness and strong oxidation resistance. The assessment of oxidation/biodegradation of hBN is important in developing biomedical tools. Herein, we report the first study on the biodegradability of hBN nanosheets comparing the enzymatic catalysis of two different peroxidases, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and human myeloperoxidase (MPO), with the photo‐Fenton (P.F.) reaction. The results show that degradation of hBN nanosheets is different to that of graphene and graphene oxide, since partial oxidation was found using MPO after 35 h, while HRP failed to degrade hBN up to 60 days. Nearly complete oxidation/degradation was occurred by P.F. reaction in 100 h. These results are helpful in designing advanced conjugates for biomedical uses of hBN.     

氮掺杂石墨烯的制备及其在化学储能中的研究进展

石墨烯独特的二维空间结构使其具有优异的导电性能、力学性能以及超大的比表面积,被认为是颇具潜力的新型储能材料,是目前储能研究的热点之一。 但是石墨烯易团聚、表面光滑且呈惰性而不利于与其它材料的复合,导致其应用受到限制。 石墨烯掺氮可改变其电子结构,增加表面的活性位,从而提高其应用于储能器件时的电化学性能。 本文综述了近几年氮掺杂石墨烯的制备方法以及其在超级电容器、锂离子电池、锂空电池以及锂硫电池等化学储能领域中的应用,指出了目前氮掺杂石墨烯在制备和储能应用中关注的核心问题,并对氮掺杂石墨烯的发展前景进行了展望。     

Regulation of 2D Graphene Materials for Electrocatalysis

Benefiting from unique excellent physical and chemical characteristics, graphene has attracted widespread attention in the application of electrocatalysis. As a promising candidate, graphene is usually regulated with surface defects, heteroatoms, metal atoms and other active materials through covalent or non‐covalent bonds to substitute for noble metal catalysts, which has not been targeted in a report yet. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of approaches for engineering graphene‐based electrocatalysts and emphasize the corresponding electrocatalytic active sites in various electrocatalysis circumstances, such as electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), etc. The opportunities and challenges in the future development of graphene‐based catalysts are also discussed.