Adsorption of ammonia and water on functionalized edge-rich carbon nanofibers

The preparation, characterization and ammonia and water adsorption properties of edge-rich carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were studied, including platelet CNFs (PCNFs) and cup-stacked CNFs (CSCNFs). Since PCNFs and CSCNFs have many chemically active exposed edges, functionalization by oxidizing the edges was carried out by ozone stream and by nitric acid. Transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption isotherms and temperature-programmed desorption analysis showed that the nitric acid treatment partly destroyed the graphite structure of the PCNFs and created acid functional groups and micropores, whereas the ozone treatment created functional groups without damaging the structure. Ammonia adsorption isotherms clarified that NH₃ adsorption on PCNFs and CSCNFs occurred mainly on oxygen-containing groups, whereas the adsorption on activated carbon fibers (ACFs) occurred on both oxygen-containing groups and the carbon surface without the functional groups, and the CSCNFs showed larger amounts of adsorbed ammonia compared to the PCNFs. Especially at a relatively low pressure range (<0.2 atm), the PCNFs/CSCNFs/ACFs showed the same ammonia adsorption mechanism; that is, the one-to-one interaction between oxygen atoms in the functional groups and hydrogen atoms in ammonia molecules. In addition, the adsorption on the ACFs appeared to occur mainly by interaction with the carbon surface at relatively high pressure (0.3–1.0 atm). Our experimental results and previous findings suggest that NH₃ adsorption on PCNFs is due mainly to NH…O hydrogen bonding between oxygen-containing groups and ammonia rather than to chemical bonding.     

Modular assembly of elliptical mesogens

Discotic mesogens featuring a pyridine ring were synthesized, and were found either to form ordered hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline phases or melt directly from a crystal to an isotropic liquid, depending on the position of the pyridyl nitrogen atom. Binary mixtures of the mesogenic pyridine derivatives with a similar discotic mesogen having a carboxylic acid group resulted in the formation of modular elliptical complexes through hydrogen bonding. The binary mixtures were found to exhibit ordered hexagonal columnar or ordered rectangular columnar and nematic mesophases, depending on the length of the alkyl chains, and displayed dramatically different properties from their constituent components. Binary mixtures of the non-mesogenic pyridine derivatives with carboxylic acid-functionalized discotic mesogens did not result in the formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes.     

Adsorbents based on carbon microfibers and carbon nanofibers for the removal of phenol and lead from water

This paper describes the production, characteristics, and efficacy of carbon microfibers and carbon nanofibers for the removal of phenol and Pb(2+) from water by adsorption. The first adsorbent produced in the current investigation contained the ammonia (NH(3)) functionalized micron-sized activated carbon fibers (ACF). Alternatively, the second adsorbent consisted of a multiscale web of ACF/CNF, which was prepared by growing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on activated ACFs via catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and sonication, which was conducted to remove catalytic particles from the CNF tips and open the pores of the CNFs. The two adsorbents prepared in the present study, ACF and ACF/CNF, were characterized by several analytical techniques, including SEM-EDX and FT-IR. Moreover, the chemical composition, BET surface area, and pore-size distribution of the materials were determined. The hierarchal web of carbon microfibers and nanofibers displayed a greater adsorption capacity for Pb(2+) than ACF. Interestingly, the adsorption capacity of ammonia (NH(3)) functionalized ACFs for phenol was somewhat larger than that of the multiscale ACF/CNF web. Difference in the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents was attributed to differences in the size of the solutes and their reactivity towards ACF and ACF/CNF. The results indicated that ACF-based materials were efficient adsorbents for the removal of inorganic and organic solutes from wastewater.     

Creation of surface defects on carbon nanofibers by steam treatment

A direct strategy for the creation of defects on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) has been developed by steam treatment.Nitrogen physisorption,XRD,Raman spectra,SEM and TEM analyses proved the existence of the new defects on CNFs.BET surface area of CNFs after steam treatment was enhanced from 20 to 378 m2/g.Pd catalysts supported on CNFs were also prepared by colloidal deposition method.The different activity of Pd/CNFs catalysts in the partial hydrogenation of phenylacetylene further demonstrated the diverse surfaces of CNFs could be formed by steam treatment.     

Hierarchical structured CoP nanosheets/carbon nanofibers bifunctional eletrocatalyst for high-efficient overall water splitting

The design of efficient,stable,and economical electrocatalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction(OER and HER)is a major challenge for overall water splitting.Herein,a hierarchical structured CoP/carbon nanofibers(CNFs)composite was successfully synthesized and its potential application as a high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall splitting water was evaluated.The synergetic effect of two-dimensional(2D)CoP nanosheets and on e-dimensi on al(1D)CNFs endowed the CoP/CNFs composites with abundant active sites and rapid electron and mass transport pathways,and thereby significantly improved the electrocatalytic performances.The optimized CoP/CNFs delivered a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 at low overpotential of 325 mV for OER and 225 mV for HER.In the overall water splitting,CoP/CNFs achieved a low potential of 1.65 V at 10 mA cm^-2.The facile strategy provided in the present work can facilitate the design and development of multifunctional non-noble metal catalysts for energy applications.     

Modular assembly of metal-organic supercontainers incorporating sulfonylcalixarenes

A new strategy for the design of container molecules is presented. Sulfonylcalix[4]arenes, which are synthetic macrocyclic containers, are used as building blocks that are combined with various metal ions and tricarboxylate ligands to construct metal-organic "supercontainers" (MOSCs). These MOSCs possess both endo and exo cavities and thus mimic the structure of viruses. The synthesis of MOSCs is highly modular, robust, and predictable. The unique features of MOSCs are expected to provide exciting new opportunities for the exploration of their functional applications.     

Modular assembly of a preorganised, ditopic receptor for dicarboxylates

Two types of calix[4]arene derived hosts for anions with, respectively, 1,3-alternate and cone conformations have been prepared; the 1,3-alternate system binds dicarboxylate anions in a ditopic manner while the cone compounds are deprotonated by carboxylates.     

Dispersion of acid-treated carbon nanofibers into gel matrices prepared by the sol-gel method

1-Naphthol has been used as an in-situ fluorescent probe to characterize the dispersibility of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) into the sol-gel matrix of silicon alkoxide. The ion-pair fluorescence of 1-naphthol was found in the gel dispersing acid-treated CNFs instead of 1Lb fluorescence, which was preferred in the low polar gel matrix. This indicates that 1-naphthol easily interacts with oxidized groups present on the surface of the acid-treated CNFs due to the high dispersibility of the CNFs into the gel matrix. The oxidized groups on the CNF surface are useful for preventing self-assembly and/or aggregation of the CNFs in the gel matrix.     

Functionalized carbon nanotubes and nanofibers for biosensing applications

This review summarizes recent advances in electrochemical biosensors based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with an emphasis on applications of CNTs. CNTs and CNFs have unique electric, electrocatalytic and mechanical properties, which make them efficient materials for developing electrochemical biosensors.We discuss functionalizing CNTs for biosensors. We review electrochemical biosensors based on CNTs and their various applications (e.g., measurement of small biological molecules and environmental pollutants, detection of DNA, and immunosensing of disease biomarkers). Moreover, we outline the development of electrochemical biosensors based on CNFs and their applications. Finally, we discuss some future applications of CNTs.     

Functionalized electrospun carbon nanofibers for removal of cationic dye

Electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs) have attracted significant attention in recent years as relatively inexpensive alternative to carbon nanotubes for adsorption organic pollutants. In this study, ECNFs were fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) using an electrospinning technique, followed by carbonization and oxidation via treatment with a H₂SO₄/HNO₃ mixture. The prepared oxidized electrospun carbon nanofibers (O-ECNFs) were characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The O-ECNFs were used as nano-adsorbents for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The adsorption of MB by the O-ECNFs was studied as a function of pH, time, adsorbent dosage, MB concentration, and temperature. ECNF functionalization enhanced the adsorption capacity towards MB dye compared pristine ECNFs. Detailed analysis of the adsorption kinetics showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm was best fit by the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic results showed that MB adsorption onto the O-ECNFs was endothermic and spontaneous.     

Lignin bio-oil-based electrospun nanofibers with high substitution ratio property for potential carbon nanofibers applications

We reported a new approach for development of lignin bio-oil-based electrospun nanofibers (LENFs) that had high substitution ratio (up to 80 wt%) and good morphology. This approach was particularly unique and translatable as it used small molecule lignin bio-oil with high reactivity and low heterogeneity obtained via lignin depolymerization reaction to produce well-oriented LENFs. Firstly, effects of various blends solutions ratios and electrospinning parameters on the characteristics of the obtained LENFs were analyzed. The results showed that the optimal parameters that resulted in the best electrospun nanofibers were as follows: blend solution ratio, the 20 wt% blend solution containing 80 wt% straw lignin bio-oil (SLB) and 20 wt% polyacrylonitrile (PAN), flow rate, 1 mL/h, voltage, 20 kV, rotational speed, 500 r/min and the distance between needle and collection screen, 20 cm. Secondly, used the best LENFs, we also applied to prepare lignin bio-oil-based carbon nanofibers (LCNFs) and estimated its properties by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Raman spectroscopy and tension testing. Our results demonstrated that compared with pure PAN carbon nanofibers (PCNFs), the as-prepared LCNFs had similar smooth surfaces, similar crystallinity and similar mechanical properties. This work can promote the utilization of lignin depolymerization main-products to produce lignin-based materials, while also help to reduce use of high-cost PAN.     

静电纺丝辅助后处理合成钴氮共掺杂碳纤维用于氧还原催化剂

通过静电纺丝辅助后处理策略开发了Co和N掺杂碳纳米纤维(N-Co@CNFs)的高效ORR催化剂.该方法可以有效提高氮的掺杂水平,优化氮掺杂位的状态,生成高活性的石墨氮主导位点,提高碳纳米纤维骨架的石墨化程度.同时,在一维碳纳米纤维的独特高度开放的骨架上实现高活性的氮掺杂位点和钴基位点合理整合.这种独特的纳米结构使得制备的N-Co@CNF具有优异的电催化活性、四电子选择性和在碱性电解质中的稳定性.     

Modular construction for the programmed assembly of molecular crystals and liquid crystals

This research aims to develop schemes for the programmed assembly of molecular materials. The underlying premise guiding this work is that structural information stored in the molecular constituents dictates their condensed phase organization (i.e. through the sum of all non-covalent interactions). The challenge then is to design molecular building blocks that encode this information in a decipherable manner. Our approach has relied on the use of organic nanoarchitectures, which we believe will serve as “modular units” for programmed assembly. Large molecules of well defined constitution and geometry offer the advantage that a high level of information can be incorporated into a single unit. The design and synthesis of nanoscale macrocyclics and macrobicyclics for this purpose has been achieved. Studies on the solution aggregation of the macrocyclics have provided a unique opportunity to glimpse some of the interactions which may influence solid state ordering. These building blocks are being used for the rational design of novel materials such as porous organic crystals and tubular mesophases.     

Modular face-to-face assembly of multichromophore arrays that absorb across the complete UV-visible spectrum and into the near-IR

Defined face-to-face structures of phthalocyanine and porphyrin chromophores can be prepared using a modular strategy that allows directional, stepwise construction. μ-Oxo linkage between the central group of 14 metalloid atoms Si and Ge ensures π-overlap between the macrocycles, and exciton coupling effects further extend the absorption profile to provide arrays that absorb across the whole UV-visible spectrum and into the near-IR. The strategy is sufficiently versatile to be extended to synthesis of higher defined oligomers and subsequent functionalization or attachment at either or both ends of the stack.     

Modular DNA-programmed assembly of linear and branched conjugated nanostructures

A new strategy for self-assembly and covalent coupling of encoded molecular modules into nanostructures with predetermined connectivity has been developed. The method uses DNA-functionalized oligo(phenylene ethynylene)-derived organic modules for controlling the assembly and covalent coupling of multiple modules. Rigid linear modules (LM) and tripoidal modules (TM) were functionalized with short oligonucleotides at each terminus. They can hybridize and thereby link up modules containing complementary sequences. Each terminus of the oligo(phenylene ethynylene) modules also consists of a salicylaldehyde moiety, which can form metal-salen complexes with other modules. The salicylaldehyde groups of two modules are brought in proximity when their adjoining DNA sequences are complementary, and they selectively form a manganese-salen complex in the presence of ethylenediamine and manganese acetate. The resulting structures consist of a matrix of linear and branched oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s which are linked by conjugated and rigid manganese-salen complexes. These nanostructures are potential conductors for applications in molecular electronics.     

有序介孔TiO2纳米纤维及其串联光催化水处理-产氢性能（英文）

光催化技术在环境净化及新能源开发方面具有巨大的研究潜力,特别在有机污染物降解去除和分解水制氢展示出了广泛的应用前景.二氧化钛(TiO2)具有出色的光催化活性和稳定性、低成本和无毒性等性质,是最有前景的光催化剂之一,但离广泛实用还有一定距离.TiO2光催化活性很大程度上取决于其尺寸,结晶度和形状等结构特征,因此,TiO2的纳米结构优化设计,为开发高活性TiO2光催化材料,推动其商业和工业应用提供了新的可能.最近大量研究表明,一维(1D)纳米结构,如纳米管,纳米线和纳米纤维等,具有卓越的光生电荷分离和传输能力,可提高光催化活性.鉴于此,1D TiO2纳米光催化剂的设计和可控制备引起了广泛的研究关注.一般而言,1D TiO2制备方法包括溶胶凝胶法,水热法,溶剂热法和静电纺丝法.其中,水热法由于简单高效,是最广泛使用的一种制备方法.通常,水热法制备1D TiO2包括两个主要步骤.首先,在浓NaOH水溶液中的水热处理,将不规则的TiO2颗粒转化为均匀的1D纳米钛酸盐中间体.随后,通过氢离子交换和热转化,将所获得的钛酸盐转化为1D TiO2.钛酸盐中间体的形成和转化过程,对调控所得1D TiO2产物的结构特征,包括相、尺寸、形状和组成等,具有至关重要的作用.然而,传统水热法的反应条件非常苛刻,经常导致1D纳米结构的破坏及纳米颗粒的无序排列,降低了获得材料的光催化活性.因此,发展温和的钛酸盐转化方法,将为制备高活性光催化材料提供新思路.本文通过新颖的蒸汽热方法,成功将钛酸盐纳米带转化为由纳米晶定向组装而成的介孔TiO2纳米纤维.结合XRD,BET,TEM,XPS,UV-Vis和PL等分析手段详细表征了催化剂的组成与结构,基于有机污染物(以罗丹明B为例)降解以及光催化分解水制氢考察了催化剂的光催化活性.结果表明,在150°C蒸汽热处理得到的1D TiO2纳米纤维具有最高的光催化氧化活性与还原活性,均优于商业TiO2(P25).1D TiO2纳米纤维具有介孔结构,其纳米晶排列有序,从而对增强光催化性能至关重要.各向异性锐钛矿纳米晶的有序排列,促进了光生电子与空穴沿纳米纤维结构定向传递,降低电子-空穴复合几率.介孔结构和高表面积有利于光催化反应过程中的质量交换.鉴于1D TiO2纳米纤维同时具有最高的光催化氧化活性与还原活性,我们发展了光催化水处理-产氢集成新技术,通过光催化“有氧氧化-缺氧还原”串联工艺来实现.有机染料在有氧氧化过程中部分氧化,并在后续的缺氧还原阶段充当高效牺牲试剂以促进光催化分解水制氢.该研究为制备高活性有序介孔TiO2纳米纤维及其应用提供了新思路.     

Modular assembly of layer-by-layer capsules with tailored degradation profiles

Herein we report the preparation of layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled, biodegradable, covalently stabilized capsules with tunable degradation properties. Poly(L-glutamic acid) modified with alkyne moieties (PGA(Alk)) was alternately assembled with poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVPON) on silica particles via hydrogen-bonding. The films were cross-linked with a bis-azide linker, followed by removal of the sacrificial template and PVPON at physiological pH through hydrogen bond disruption, yielding one-component PGA(Alk) capsules. To control the kinetics and location of capsule degradation, a number of approaches were investigated. First, a degradable bis-azide cross-linker was incorporated into the inherently enzymatically degradable capsules. Second, we assembled low-fouling capsules composed of nondegradable poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone-ran-propargyl acrylate) (PVPON(Alk)) via hydrogen bonding with poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) and combined this with the aforementioned system (PGA(Alk)/PVPON) to produce stratified hybrid capsules. The degradation profiles of these stratified capsules can be closely controlled by the number as well as the position of nondegradable barrier layers in the systems. The facile tailoring of the degradation kinetics makes this stratified LbL approach promising for the design of tailored drug-delivery vehicles.     

Chemical activation of carbon nanofibers and nanotubes

Method of thermodynamic simulation was used to calculate the equilibrium parameters of reactions of graphite with anhydrous LiOH, NaOH, and KOH and with the alkalis in the presence of water vapor. The change in the specific surface area and mass loss were used to analyze the interaction of carbon nanofibers and multilayer carbon nanotubes produced by catalytic pyrolysis of CH₄ with the alkalis.