Three-dimensional graphene-based frameworks (3D-GFs) with hierarchical macro- and meso-porous structures are presented. The interconnected macropores are derived from hydrothermally assembled 3D graphene aerogels (GAs), while the mesopores are generated by the silica networks uniformly grown on the surface of graphene. The resulting 3D-GFs exhibit narrow mesopore size distribution (2-3.5 nm), high surface area, and low mass density. These intriguing features render 3D-GFs a promising template for creating various 3D porous materials. Specifically, 3D GA-based mesoporous carbons (GA-MC) and metal oxide hybrids (GA-Co(3)O(4), GA-RuO(2)) can be successfully constructed via a nanocasting technology. Benefiting from the integration of meso- and macroporous structures, 3D GA-MC manifests outstanding specific capacitance (226 F g(-1)), high rate capability, and excellent cycling stability (no capacitance loss after 5000 cycles) when it is applied in electrochemical capacitors.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), defined as nanometer-wide strips of graphene, have attracted increasing attention as promising candidates for next-generation semiconductors. Here, we demonstrate a bottom-up strategy toward novel low band gap GNRs (Eg = 1.70 eV) with a well-defined cove-type periphery both in solution and on a solid substrate surface with chrysene as the key monomer. Corresponding cyclized chrysene-based oligomers consisting of the dimer and tetramer are obtained via an Ullmann coupling followed by oxidative intramolecular cyclodehydrogenation in solution, and much higher GNR homologues via on-surface synthesis. These oligomers adopt nonplanar structures due to the steric repulsion between the two C–H bonds at the inner cove position. Characterizations by single crystal X-ray analysis, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) are described. The interpretation is assisted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Chemical functionalization is one of the most powerful and widely used strategies to control the properties of nanomaterials, particularly in the field of graphene. However, the ill-defined structure of the present functionalized graphene inhibits atomically precise structural characterization and structure-correlated property modulation. Here we present a general edge chlorination protocol for atomically precise functionalization of nanographenes at different scales from 1.2 to 3.4 nm and its application in graphene nanoribbons. The well-defined edge chlorination is unambiguously confirmed by X-ray single-crystal analysis, which also discloses the characteristic non-planar molecular shape and detailed bond lengths of chlorinated nanographenes. Chlorinated nanographenes and graphene nanoribbons manifest enhanced solution processability associated with decreases in the optical band gap and frontier molecular orbital energy levels, exemplifying the structure-correlated property modulation by precise edge chlorination.

The isolated pentagon rule (IPR) is now widely accepted as a general rule for determining the stability of all-carbon fullerene cages composed of hexagons and pentagons. Fullerenes that violate this rule have been deemed too reactive to be synthesized. The stabilization of non-IPR endohedral fullerenes depends on charge transfer from the encapsulated metal clusters (endoclusters) to fullerene cages, the electronic properties of empty all-carbon cages, the matching size and geometries of fullerene and endocluster, as well as the strong coordination of the metal ions to fused pentagons. The stability of non-IPR exohedral fullerenes can be rationalized primarily by both the 'strain-relief' and 'local-aromaticity' principles. This Review focuses on recent work on stabilization of non-IPR fullerenes, including theoretical and empirical principles, experimental methods, and molecular structures of fused-pentagon fullerenes characterized so far. The special chemical properties of non-IPR fullerenes that distinguish them from IPR-satisfying ones are also emphasized.

Heteroatom doping of nanocarbon films can efficiently boost the pseudocapacitance of micro-supercapacitors (MSCs); however, wafer-scale fabrication of sulfur-doped graphene films with a tailored thickness and homogeneous doping for MSCs remains a great challenge. Here we demonstrate the bottom-up fabrication of continuous, uniform, and ultrathin sulfur-doped graphene (SG) films, derived from the peripherical trisulfur-annulated hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (SHBC), for ultrahigh-rate MSCs (SG-MSCs) with landmark volumetric capacitance. The SG film was prepared by thermal annealing of the spray-coated SHBC-based film, with assistance of a thin Au protecting layer, at 800 °C for 30 min. SHBC with 12 phenylthio groups decorated at the periphery is critical as a precursor for the formation of the continuous and ultrathin SG film, with a uniform thickness of ∼10.0 nm. Notably, the as-produced all-solid-state planar SG-MSCs exhibited a highly stable pseudocapacitive behavior with a volumetric capacitance of ∼582 F cm at 10 mV s, excellent rate capability with a remarkable capacitance of 8.1 F cm even at an ultrahigh rate of 2000 V s, ultrafast frequency response with a short time constant of 0.26 ms, and ultrahigh power density of ∼1191 W cm. It is noteworthy that these values obtained are among the best values for carbon-based MSCs reported to date.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been demonstrated as one of the most promising candidates for solar energy harvesting. Here, for the first time, a functionalized nanographene (perthiolated trisulfur-annulated hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene, TSHBC) is employed as the hole transporting material (HTM) in PSCs to achieve efficient charge extraction from perovskite, yielding the best efficiency of 12.8% in pristine form. The efficiency is readily improved up to 14.0% by doping with graphene sheets into TSHBC to enhance the charge transfer. By the HOMO-LUMO level engineering of TSHBC homologues, we demonstrate that the HOMO levels are critical for the performance of PSCs. Moreover, beneficial from the hydrophobic nature of TSHBC, the devices show the improved stability under AM 1.5 illumination in the humidity about 45% without encapsulation. These findings open the opportunities for efficient HTMs based on the functionalized nanographenes utilizing the strong interactions of their functional groups with perovskite.

The efficacy of photosensitizers in cancer phototherapy is often limited by photobleaching, low tumor selectivity, and tumor hypoxia. Assembling photosensitizers into nanostructures can improve photodynamic therapy efficacy and the safety profile of photosensitizers. Herein by employing supramolecular assembly, enhanced theranostic capability of Mn2+-assisted assembly of a photosensitizer (sinoporphyrin sodium, DVDMS) is demonstrated. A tumor environment-triggered coassembly strategy is further developed to form Mn/DVDMS nanotheranostics (nanoDVD) for cancer phototherapy. MnO2 nanosheets serve as a highly effective DVDMS carrier and in situ oxygen and nanoDVD generator. In MCF-7 cells and xenograft tumors, MnO2/DVDMS is reduced by glutathione (GSH) and H2O2 and reassembled into nanoDVD, which can be monitored by activated magnetic resonance/fluorescence/photoacoustic signals. Intriguingly, the decrease of GSH, the production of O2, and the formation of nanoDVD are shown to be synergistic with phototherapy to improve antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo, offering a new avenue for cancer theranostics.

Development of power conversion efficiency (PCE) and short-term stability are still huge challenges that restrict the actual industrialization of OSCs. [5,6] There has been much exploration of the state-of-art photovoltaic performance, with methods that mainly concentrate on the molecular design, structure modification of devices, and the construction of active layers. [7][8][9] Through innovative molecular design and matching with suitable donors, the Y6 system has opened a new vista in which the efficiency of nonfullerene solar cells (NFSC) approached 16%. [10] To date, subsequent optimizations have brought a brighter future with the PCE in single-junction devices exceeding 18%. [11][12][13][14] Together with molecular innovation, interface engineering also improves the device performances continually. Gene rally, interface engineering implies that through insertion of a single or double interlayer between an active layer and a cathode or anode to improve the indirect contact between them, and further regulation of the morphology or work function of electrodes, the devices can be improved. Included amongst the most popular interfacial materials, there are several main types: [15] metal oxides (MO), including the commonly used ZnO [16] and MoOx, alcohol-soluble polymers and small molecules such as amino PDINO [17] and PFN-Br, [18] Interface engineering is a critical method by which to efficiently enhance the photovoltaic performance of nonfullerene solar cells (NFSC). Herein, a series of metal-nanographene-containing large transition metal involving d π -p π conjugated systems by way of the addition reactions of osmapentalynes and p-diethynyl-hexabenzocoronenes is reported. Conjugated extensions are engineered to optimize the π-conjugation of these metal-nanographene molecules, which serve as alcohol-soluble cathode interlayer (CIL) materials. Upon extension of the π-conjugation, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PM6:BTP-eC9-based NFSCs increases from 16% to over 18%, giving the highest recorded PCE. It is deduced by X-ray crystallographic analysis, interfacial contact methods, morphology characterization, and carrier dynamics that modification of hexabenzocoronenes-styryl can effectively improve the short-circuit current density (J sc ) and fill factor of organic solar cells (OSCs), mainly due to the strong and ordered charge transfer, more matching energy level alignments, better interfacial contacts between the active layer and the electrodes, and regulated morphology. Consequently, the carrier transport is largely facilitated, and the carrier recombination is simultaneously impeded. These new CIL materials are broadly able to enhance the photovoltaic properties of OSCs in other systems, which provides a promising potential to serve as CILs for higher-quality OSCs.