Francesco Carraro

Multiple doping of graphene oxide foams and quantum dots: new switchable systems for oxygen reduction and water remediation

Single- and multi-boron, nitrogen, sulphur doped graphene oxide quantum dots and three-dimensional foams are synthesized by a simple and environmentally friendly electrochemical method. The electrochemical activity of these materials in the oxygen reduction reaction is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode measurements. The experimental data demonstrate that the reaction selectivity is controlled by the oxidation degree of the materials: as-prepared graphene oxide quantum dots, which present highly oxidized functional groups, follow a two-electron reduction pathway and produce hydrogen peroxide, whereas after a reduction treatment by NaBH4, the same materials favour a four-electron reduction of oxygen to water. The high selectivity and high efficiency of the graphene oxide quantum dots for the production of hydrogen peroxide can be efficiently used for water remediation applications (phenol decomposition).

Fast One-Pot Synthesis of MoS2/Crumpled Graphene p–n Nanonjunctions for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production

Aerosol processing enables the preparation of hierarchical graphene nanocomposites with special crumpled morphology in high yield and in a short time. Using modular insertion of suitable precursors in the starting solution, it is possible to synthesize different types of graphene-based materials ranging from heteroatom-doped graphene nanoballs to hierarchical nanohybrids made up by nitrogen-doped crumpled graphene nanosacks that wrap finely dispersed MoS2 nanoparticles. These materials are carefully investigated by microscopic (SEM, standard and HR TEM), diffraction (grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD)) and spectroscopic (high resolution photoemission, Raman and UV-visible spectroscopy) techniques, evidencing that nitrogen dopants provide anchoring sites for MoS2 nanoparticles, whereas crumpling of graphene sheets drastically limits aggregation. The activity of these materials is tested toward the photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen, obtaining that N-doped graphene/MoS2 nanohybrids are seven times more efficient with respect to single MoS2 because of the formation of local p-n MoS2/N-doped graphene nanojunctions, which allow an efficient charge carrier separation.

Formation of alloy nanoparticles by laser ablation of Au/Fe multilayer films in liquid environment

Laser ablation in liquids (LAL) emerged as a powerful technique for the synthesis of multielement nanoparticles (NPs) such as metal alloys with thermodynamically forbidden composition. Consequently, there is a great interest in expanding the current knowledge about NPs formation during LAL, in order to improve the control on product structure and to extend the range of compositions accessible by this technique. Here we performed a systematic investigation on alloy NPs formation by nanosecond LAL of Au/Fe/glass multilayers with different thickness and order of deposition. The experiments were carried out in ethanol and water, which have, respectively, favourable and unfavourable effects on alloy formation. Results were analyzed with optical absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Mie theory for simple and core-shell spheres. Since alloy NPs were obtained in all cases, our findings provide the evidence that the two metals are mixed during particles formation. Besides, our results suggest that the probability of interaction between ablated matter and solution species is higher for the topmost layer of the target, i.e. the one closer to the solid/liquid interface. This provides useful insight for the synthesis of nanoalloys with new compositions, that are of interest in several fields, from catalysis to photonics and nanomedicine.

Insights into the durability of Co–Fe spinel oxygen evolution electrocatalysts via operando studies of the catalyst structure

Elemental reorganisation and oxidation state changes of key active sites in Co–Fe spinels are investigated by in situ X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) under oxygen evolution operating conditions. The combination of the two techniques allows identifying both the surface and bulk modifications on the oxides and relating them to the activity loss during extended cycling. The results show that Co–Fe spinels experience a surface irreversible phase evolution under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions, resulting in the formation of an amorphous layer composed of new stable Co(III) and Fe(III) species. Accelerated ageing tests show that the durability, intended as the performance loss during cycling treatments, is not directly related to the structural/chemical stability of the spinels but to the new species formed at the surface due to the electrochemical work. Thus, the material that experienced more significant changes was also the most durable one, demonstrating that the understanding of the chemical and/or structural evolution of the materials during the catalytic process can be the key for the design of highly active and stable catalysts.

Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Perovskite–Polymer Nanocomposites: Toward the Enhancement of Structural and Electrical Properties

Hybrid organic/inorganic perovskite nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered remarkable research attention because of their promising photophysical properties. New and interesting properties emerge after combining perovskite NPs with semiconducting materials. Here, we report the synthesis and investigation of a composite material obtained by mixing CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystals with the semiconducting polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). By the combination of structural techniques and optical and magnetic spectroscopies we observed multiple effects of the perovskite NPs on the P3HT: (i) an enlargement of P3HT crystalline domains, (ii) a strong p-doping of the P3HT, and (iii) an enhancement of interchain order typical of H-aggregates. These observations open a new avenue toward innovative perovskite NP-based applications.

Aerosol Synthesis of N and N-S Doped and Crumpled Graphene Nanostructures

Chemically modified graphene–based materials (CMG) are currently attracting a vast interest in their application in different fields. In particular, heteroatom-doped graphenes have revealed great potentialities in the field of electrocatalysis as substitutes of fuel cell noble metal–based catalysts. In this work, we investigate an innovative process for doping graphene nanostructures. We optimize a novel synthetic route based on aerosol preparation, which allows the simultaneous doping, crumpling, and reduction of graphene oxide (GO). Starting from aqueous solutions containing GO and the dopant precursors, we synthesize N- and N,S-dual-doped 3D graphene nanostructures (N-cGO and N,S-cGO). In the aerosol process, every aerosol droplet can be considered as a microreactor where dopant precursors undergo thermal decomposition and react with the GO flakes. Simultaneously, thanks to the relatively high temperature, GO undergoes crumpling and partial reduction. Using a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques, we investigate the morphology of the obtained materials and the chemical nature of the dopants within the crumpled graphene sheets. This study highlights the versatility of the aerosol process for the design of new CMG materials with tailored electrocatalytic properties.