Graphdiyne (GDY), a two-dimensional (2D) carbon material with diacetylenic linkages (−CC–CC−) structures, has attracted enormous attention in various fields. However, the controlled synthesis of GDY films is still challenging because of the low alkyne coupling efficiency and out-of-plane growth. Here, we employed a highly efficient Cu­(II)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (Cu­(II)-TMEDA) catalyst and constructed a superspreading liquid/liquid interface on a hydrogel for rapid and controllable synthesis of GDY thin films. GDY films with controllable thickness from 4 to 50 nm and large-scale uniform morphology can be prepared within 2 h at room temperature. The mechanism of growth was revealed to be a nucleation and in-plane extension process. Meanwhile, the as-grown GDY films showed excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, which induces the release of Cu­(II) ions from the hydrogel and exhibits high efficiency in synergistic antibacteria.

Graphdiyne (GDY) has been considered as an appealing anode candidate for K-ion storage since its triangular pore channel, alkyne-rich structure, and large interlayer spacing would endow it with abundant active sites and ideal diffusion paths for K-ions. Nevertheless, the low surface area and disordered structure of bulk GDY typically lead to unsatisfied K storage performance. Herein, we have designed a GDY/graphene/GDY (GDY/Gr/GDY) sandwiched architecture affording a high surface area and fine quality throughout a van der Waals epitaxy strategy. As tested in a half-cell configuration, the GDY/Gr/GDY electrode exhibits better capacity output, rate capability, and cyclic stability as compared to the bare GDY counterpart. In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy/Raman spectroscopy/transmission electron microscopy are further applied to probe the K-ion storage feature and disclose the favorable reversibility of GDY/Gr/GDY electrode during repeated potassiation/depotassiation. A full-cell device comprising a GDY/Gr/GDY anode and a potassium Prussian blue cathode enables a high cycling stability, demonstrative of the promising potential of the GDY/Gr/GDY anode for K-ion batteries.

Graphdiyne (GDY), a rising star of carbon allotropes, features a two-dimensional all-carbon network with the cohybridization of sp and sp 2 carbon atoms and represents a trend and research direction in the development of carbon materials. The sp/sp 2 -hybridized structure of GDY endows it with numerous advantages and advancements in controlled growth, assembly, and performance tuning, and many studies have shown that GDY has been a key material for innovation and development in the fields of catalysis, energy, photoelectric conversion, mode conversion and transformation of electronic devices, detectors, life sciences, etc. In the past ten years, the fundamental scientific issues related to GDY have been understood, showing differences from traditional carbon materials in controlled growth, chemical and physical properties and mechanisms, and attracting extensive attention from many scientists. GDY has gradually developed into one of the frontiers of chemistry and materials science, and has entered the rapid development period, producing large numbers of fundamental and applied research achievements in the fundamental and applied research of carbon materials. For the exploration of frontier scientific concepts and phenomena in carbon science research, there is great potential to promote progress in the fields of energy, catalysis, intelligent information, optoelectronics, and life sciences. In this review, the growth, self-assembly method, aggregation structure, chemical modification, and doping of GDY are shown, and the theoretical calculation and simulation and fundamental properties of GDY are also fully introduced. In particular, the applications of GDY and its formed aggregates in catalysis, energy storage, photoelectronic, biomedicine, environmental science, life science, detectors, and material separation are introduced.