Integration of inorganic nanostructures with polydopamine-derived carbon: tunable morphologies and versatile applications

Abstract

Polydopamine (PDA), a mussel adhesive-inspired biomimetic polymer, has attracted tremendous attention owing to its extremely versatile adhesion properties, facile aqueous coating process, capability of self-assembly to form nanostructures, and abundant surface functional groups for secondary modification. PDA is also a fantastic carbon source because it gives nitrogen (N)-doped graphite-like carbon in high yield, and the carbonized PDA (C-PDA) thin coatings have similar properties to those of N-doped multilayered graphene, i.e., they exhibit high electrical conductivity, and good electrochemical and mechanical properties. In comparison with other carbon sources, an outstanding feature of PDA lies in its ease of integration with inorganic nanostructures and capability for easy tailoring the structure and morphology of the resultant composite nanostructures. In this article, different routes for the preparation of C-PDA-based composite nanostructures, such as carbon/metal oxide and carbon/Si hollow, mesoporous, core-shell, yolk-shell nanostructures, are introduced with typical examples. The structures, morphologies and properties of the C-PDA-based composite nanostructures are also reviewed, and their potential applications in various engineering fields, such as energy storage, solar water splitting, flexible electronics, catalysis, sensing and environmental engineering, are highlighted. Finally a future outlook for this fascinating composite-nanostructure enabler is also presented.

Dopamine Self‐Polymerization Enables an N‐Doped Carbon Coating of Exfoliated MoS2 Nanoflakes for Anodes of Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…First, Bulk MoS 2 was exfoliated to nanoflakes in bayberry tannin solution, because the hydroxyl on the bayberry tannin can prevent exfoliated nanoflakes from re‐aggregating . After adding dopamine, E‐MoS 2 @PDA composites were obtained by the dopamine self‐polymerization on the surface of E‐MoS 2 nanoflakes, which happened in Tris‐buffer solution with a pH of 8.5 at ambient atmosphere, resulting in a homogeneous and ultrathin polymer film that encapsulated E‐MoS 2 nanoflakes . The E‐MoS 2 @NC samples were obtained from the carbonization process of the obtained E‐MoS 2 @PDA at 800 °C for 2 h under Ar atmosphere.…”

Adsorption of divalent cadmium by calcified iron-embedded carbon beads

“…32 A small portion of Fe 2 O 3 from the chelation of Fe 3+ with -OH groups during a pyrolysis process was also detected in XRD. 33 The peaks at 14.9 , 24.6 , 49.1 , 50.4 and 62.8 could be well indexed to the (0 0 6), (0 1 7), (1 1 15), (1 2 7) and (2 2 0) characteristic diffractions of Fe 2 O 3 (PDF# 40-1139). More remarkable, the sharp and well-dened reection diffraction peaks of alkali-type calcium chloride could be found (PDF# 36-0983, Fig.…”

Nature‐Inspired Electrochemical Energy‐Storage Materials and Devices

“…[141] Typically, alloy-type anode materials such as Si, Sn and Ge, etc. are usually considered as promising substitutes of the conventional graphite anode in lithium ion batteries due to their several times higher theoretical gravimetric capacity than its carbonaceous counterpart, and lower potential of lithium ions intercalation.…”