Borazatruxenes as precursors for hybrid C-BN 2D molecular networks

Synthesizing atomically thin, crystalline two-dimensional (2D) molecular materials which combine carbon with other elements is an emerging field requiring both custom-designed molecular precursors and their ability to organize into networks...

Contact spacing controls the on-current for all-carbon field effect transistors

All-carbon field-effect transistors, which combine carbon nanotubes and graphene hold great promise for many applications such as digital logic devices and single-photon emitters. However, the understanding of the physical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)/graphene hybrid systems in such devices remained limited. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we use a quantum transport model for field-effect transistors based on graphene electrodes and CNT channels to explain the experimentally observed low on currents. We find that large graphene/CNT spacing and short contact lengths limit the device performance. We have also elucidated in this work the experimentally observed ambipolar transport behavior caused by the flat conduction- and valence-bands and describe non-ideal gate-control of the contacts and channel region by the quantum capacitance of graphene and the carbon nanotube. We hope that our insights will accelerate the design of efficient all-carbon field-effect transistors.

Review on Carbon/Polyaniline Hybrids: Design and Synthesis for Supercapacitor

Polyaniline has been widely used in high-performance pseudocapacitors, due to its low cost, easy synthesis, and high theoretical specific capacitance. However, the poor mechanical properties of polyaniline restrict its further development. Compared with polyaniline, functionalized carbon materials have excellent physical and chemical properties, such as porous structures, excellent specific surface area, good conductivity, and accessibility to active sites. However, it should not be neglected that the specific capacity of carbon materials is usually unsatisfactory. There is an effective strategy to combine carbon materials with polyaniline by a hybridization approach to achieve a positive synergistic effect. After that, the energy storage performance of carbon/polyaniline hybridization material has been significantly improved, making it a promising and important electrode material for supercapacitors. To date, significant progress has been made in the synthesis of various carbon/polyaniline binary composite electrode materials. In this review, the corresponding properties and applications of polyaniline and carbon hybrid materials in the energy storage field are briefly reviewed. According to the classification of different types of functionalized carbon materials, this article focuses on the recent progress in carbon/polyaniline hybrid materials, and further analyzes their corresponding properties to provide guidance for the design, synthesis, and component optimization for high-performance supercapacitors.

Synthetic sugar for sustainable power?

Natural photosynthesis allows biological systems to combine carbon dioxide and water molecules under sunlight to produce energy in the form of stored sugars. The stored sugar is then used by plants and animals to exert vital biological functions. If scientists can find the right protocol and materials to mimic this natural system to produce fermentable sugars, it could be a McCoy sustainable energy source for the future.

Effect of graphite sizes and carbon black content on flowability of the injection molded conductive composite material

This study is to investigate the flowability of the injection molded conductive composite material containing filler content from 70 up to 80 wt% by using spiral mold. Several moulding compounds, containing polypropylene (PP) as a matrix and graphite (G) and carbon black (CB) as conductive fillers prepared by melt compounding using twin-screw extruder. Carbon black is added as much as 10% and 20% respectively, in order to improve the electrical conductivity of composite material. Results show that the flowability of injection molded conductive composite material decreases with decreasing graphite size and with increasing filler (graphite and carbon black) content. It was found that composites containing G with particle size distribution (≤100 μm) entirely exhibits a relatively higher flowability, in the range of 10.67–6.21 cm, compared to the small size (25-60 μm), in which flowability is in the range of 5.23–3.37 cm. An attempt to combine carbon black as second filler with the PP and G found that composites containing CB showed decreased flowability of the injection molded conductive composite material, especially when the electrical conductivity formed through the resin. Results indicate that the flowability of the injection molded conductive composite material is an important design parameter to fabricate cost-effective, large, or thin composite bipolar plates.

A novel method for the development of a carbon quantum dot/carbon nitride hybrid photocatalyst that responds to infrared light irradiation

A facile strategy has been developed to combine carbon quantum dots and a hydrophobic carbon nitride photocatalyst together to form an infrared-responsive photocatalyst. The photodegradation experiment has confirmed that the obtained material can effectively degrade methyl orange under infrared light irradiation.

Synthetic sugar for sustainable power!

Natural photosynthesis allows biological systems to remarkably combine carbon dioxide and water molecules under sunlight to produce energy in the form of stored sugars. The stored sugar is then used by plants and animals to exert vital biological functions. If scientists can find the right protocol and materials to mimic this natural system to produce fermentable sugars, it could be the McCoy sustainable energy source for the future. The objective here is not to recall the photosynthesis mechanism, but to provide a future brief vision for a conceptual application of photosynthesis to produce bioethanol from organic synthetized sugar rather than from plants, which should be saved for human and animal feeding.

Synthetic sugar for sustainable power!

Natural photosynthesis allows biological systems to remarkably combine carbon dioxide and water molecules under sunlight to produce energy in the form of stored sugars. The stored sugar is then used by plants and animals to exert vital biological functions. If scientists can find the right protocol and materials to mimic this natural system to produce fermentable sugars, it could be the McCoy sustainable energy source for the future. The objective here is not to recall the photosynthesis mechanism, but to provide a future brief vision for a conceptual application of photosynthesis to produce bioethanol from organic synthetized sugar rather than from plants, which should be saved for human and animal feeding.