Tailored Assembly of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene

Abstract

This Feature Article reviews recent progress in the tailored assembly of carbon nanotubes and graphene into three-dimensional architectures with particular emphasis on our own research employing self-assembly principles. Carbon nanotubes and graphene can be assembled into macroporous fi lms, hollow spherical capsules, or hollow nanotubes, via directed assembly from solvent dispersion. This approach is cost-effective and benefi cial for large-scale assembly, but pre-requests stable dispersion in a solvent medium. Directed growth from a nanopatterned catalyst array is another promising approach, which enables the control of morphology and properties of graphitic materials as well as their assembly. In addition, the aforementioned two approaches can be synergistically integrated to generate a carbon hybrid assembly consisting of vertical carbon nanotubes grown on fl exible graphene fi lms. Tailored assembly relying on scalable self-assembly principles offer viable routes that are scalable for mass production towards the ultimate utilization of graphitic carbon materials in nanoelectronics, displays, sensors, energy storage/conversion devices, and so on, including future fl exible devices.

Surfactant-Template Preparation of Polyaniline Semi-Tubes for Oxygen Reduction

“…On the other hand, the formation of composite between the 2-D GS and the 1-D PANIs-tubes would prevent the GS and PANIs-tubes from agglomerating and stacking during the heat treatment and electrode preparation. There have been numerous studies showing that the electrochemical performance of nanomaterials can be enhanced by forming composites with GS, due to the good electric conductivity of GS and the capability of GS to improve the dispersion of the electroactive materials [26,27]. It can be seen that the limiting current of the composite was very similar to that of the Pt/C electrocatalyst.…”

Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst Based on Edge-Nitrogen-Rich Graphene Nanoplatelets: Toward a Large-Scale Synthesis

“…According to previous reports, the overall nitrogen content may significantly influence the performance of ORR catalysis. 45,46 However, despite the N-graphene nanoplatelets prepared in this study have lower N-doping level than that from traditional methods, the ORR performance is excellent and even approaching that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. It is likely that the unique structure of edge-nitrogenrich GNPs could account for the high ORR activity.…”

Dually Responsive Janus Composite Nanosheets

“…After increasing temperature to 50 °C across the LCST, the polymer chains become hydrophobic from hydrophilic. PDEAEMA is pH-responsive with a p K a ∼ 7.2 . At low pH, for example 2, the protonated polymer chains become cationic and highly hydrophilic.…”