Doping of low-dimensional graphitic materials, including graphene, graphene quantum dots and single-wall carbon nanotubes with nitrogen, sulfur or boron can significantly change their properties. We report that simple fluorination followed by annealing in a dopant source can superdope low-dimensional graphitic materials with a high level of N, S or B. The superdoping results in the following doping levels: (i) for graphene, 29.82, 17.55 and 10.79 at% for N-, S- and B-doping, respectively; (ii) for graphene quantum dots, 36.38 at% for N-doping; and (iii) for single-wall carbon nanotubes, 7.79 and 10.66 at% for N- and S-doping, respectively. As an example, the N-superdoping of graphene can greatly increase the capacitive energy storage, increase the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction and induce ferromagnetism. Furthermore, by changing the degree of fluorination, the doping level can be tuned over a wide range, which is important for optimizing the performance of doped low-dimensional graphitic materials.

An N-superdoped 3D graphene network structure with an N-doping level up to 15.8 at% for high-performance supercapacitor is designed and synthesized, in which the graphene foam with high conductivity acts as skeleton and nested with N-superdoped reduced graphene oxide arogels. This material shows a highly conductive interconnected 3D porous structure (3.33 S cm ), large surface area (583 m g ), low internal resistance (0.4 Ω), good wettability, and a great number of active sites. Because of the multiple synergistic effects of these features, the supercapacitors based on this material show a remarkably excellent electrochemical behavior with a high specific capacitance (of up to 380, 332, and 245 F g in alkaline, acidic, and neutral electrolytes measured in three-electrode configuration, respectively, 297 F g in alkaline electrolytes measured in two-electrode configuration), good rate capability, excellent cycling stability (93.5% retention after 4600 cycles), and low internal resistance (0.4 Ω), resulting in high power density with proper high energy density.

Atomically thin 2D carbon nitride sheets (CNS) are promising materials for photocatalytic applications due to their large surface area and very short charge‐carrier diffusion distance from the bulk to the surface. However, compared to their bulk counterpart, CNS' applications always suffer from an enlarged bandgap and thus narrowed solar absorption range. Here, an approach to significantly increase solar absorption of the atomically thin CNS via fluorination followed by thermal defluorination is reported. This approach can greatly increase the visible‐light absorption of CNS by extending the absorption edge up to 578 nm. The modulated CNS loaded with Pt cocatalyst as a photocatalyst shows a superior photocatalytic hydrogen production activity under visible‐light irradiation to Pt‐CNS. Combining experimental characterization with theoretical calculations shows that this approach can introduce cyano groups into the framework of CNS as well as the accompanied nitrogen vacancies at the edges, which leads to both narrowing the bandgap and changing the charge distribution. This study will provide an effective strategy to increase solar absorption of carbon‐nitride‐based photocatalysts for solar energy conversion applications.

A hydrothermal approach was developed for the synthesis of N-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) by cutting N-doped graphene. The N-GQDs obtained have a N/C atomic ratio of ca. 5.6% and diameter of 1–7 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the N-GQDs were investigated. It was found that the N-GQDs possess bright blue PL and excellent upconversion PL properties.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk for liver cirrhosis and cancer. ELOVL family member 6, elongation of very long chain fatty acids (Elovl6), is a microsomal enzyme that regulates the elongation of C12-16 saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (FAs). We have shown previously that Elovl6 is a major target for sterol regulatory element binding proteins in the liver and that it plays a critical role in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance by modifying FA composition. To further investigate the role of Elovl6 in the development of NASH and its underlying mechanism, we used three independent mouse models with loss or gain of function of Elovl6, and human liver samples isolated from patients with NASH. Our results demonstrate that (1) Elovl6 is a critical modulator for atherogenic high-fat diet-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in the liver; (2) Elovl6 expression is positively correlated with severity of hepatosteatosis and liver injury in NASH patients; and (3) deletion of Elovl6 reduces palmitate-induced activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome; this could be at least one of the underlying mechanisms by which Elovl6 modulates the progress of NASH. Conclusion: Hepatic long-chain fatty acid composition is a novel determinant in NASH development, and Elovl6 could be a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of NASH. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;56:2199-2208

Twin carbon nanocoils (T-CNCs) were synthesized by means of acetylene decomposition over nickel nanoparticles. From the TEM image, one can see the growth of carbon nanocoils from the opposite sides of a nickel nanodisc, making an interangle of 180 degrees. We examined the microwave electromagnetic (EM) and microwave-absorbing properties of the as-prepared and annealed (1400 degrees C in Ar) T-CNCs systematically. A composite containing the as-prepared T-CNCs (15 wt %) and paraffin exhibited strong microwave absorption in a frequency range of 2 to 18 GHz. Over an absorber of double-layered composite (2.5 and 3.5 nim thickness), an absorption bandwidth of ca. 10 GHz corresponding to reflection loss below -10 dB can be obtained. We found that the magnetic parameters of the composite are low and suggest that the good absorption properties of T-CNCs should be attributed to dielectric rather than magnetic loss. It was observed that the as-prepared T-CNCs are superior to the annealed T-CNCs in microwave absorption ability, and such a phenomenon is interpreted in terms of the defect and graphitic nature of the materials. We also demonstrated that the complex permittivity and electric conductivity of T-CNCs can be controlled via annealling of T-CNCs at high temperature

Fluorinated graphene quantum dots (F-GQDs) were synthesized by cutting fluorinated graphene through a hydrothermal approach. The F-GQDs with oxygen-rich functional groups have a F/C atomic ratio of ca. 23.68% and diameter of 1-7 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the F-GQDs were investigated. The results showed that besides exhibiting bright blue PL, the F-GQDs display a clear upconversion PL.

Crystalline helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) are synthesized as the main products in the pyrolysis of acetylene at 450 °C over Fe nanoparticles generated by means of a combined sol–gel/reduction method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal that there are two HCNTs attached to each Fe3C nanoparticle, and that the two HCNTs are mirror images of each other. Annealing in Ar at 750 °C and purification by immersion in hot (90 °C) HCl solution do not significantly change the structure of the HCNTs, despite the partial removal of Fe nanoparticles by the latter treatment. The magnetic properties of the as‐prepared, annealed, and purified HCNTs have been systematically examined. The annealed sample shows relatively high magnetization due to the ferromagnetic α‐Fe nanoparticles encapsulated in the HCNT nodes. In the case of HCl treatment, relatively pure HCNTs are obtained by the removal of ferromagnetic nanoparticles from the double‐HCNT nodes. The effects of the amount of catalyst used in the synthesis process on the morphology and yield of the carbon products have also been investigated.