Jia-Xiang Yang

The chemistry of graphene

A review on the latest developments on graphene, written from the perspective of a chemist, is presented. The role of chemistry in bringing graphene research to the next level is discussed.

One-Pot Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Nanoribbons, Nanoparticles, and Graphene by the Exfoliation of Graphite in Ionic Liquids

In this work we demonstrate a facile means to generate fluorescent carbon nanoribbons, nanoparticles, and graphene from graphite electrode using ionic liquid-assisted electrochemical exfoliation. A time-dependence study of products exfoliated from the graphite anode allows the reconstruction of the exfoliation mechanism based on the interplay of anodic oxidation and anion intercalation. We have developed strategies to control the distribution of the exfoliated products. In addition, the fluorescence of these carbon nanomaterials can be tuned from the visible to ultraviolet region by controlling the water content in the ionic liquid electrolyte.

A Graphene Oxide–Organic Dye Ionic Complex with DNA‐Sensing and Optical‐Limiting Properties

Graphene oxide (GO), a nonstoichiometric, two-dimensionalcarbonsheetresultingfromacidexfoliationofgraphite,offersa new class of solution-dispersible polyaromatic platform forperforming chemistry. Graphene oxide bears covalentlybound epoxide (1,2-ether) and hydroxyl functional groupson either side of its basal plane, while carboxyl groups arelocated at the edge sites.

Structure-Directing Role of Graphene in the Synthesis of Metal−Organic Framework Nanowire

Graphene can be decorated with functional groups on either side of its basal plane, giving rise to a bifunctional nanoscale building block that can undergo face-to-face assembly. We demonstrate that benzoic acid-functionalized graphene (BFG) can act as a structure-directing template in influencing the crystal growth of metal-organic framework (MOF). BFG is also incorporated into MOF as framework linker. Because of the high density of carboxylic groups on benzoic acid-functionalized graphene, an unusual MOF nanowire that grows in the [220] direction was synthesized. The diameter of the nanowire correlates closely with the lateral dimensions of the BFG. The intercalation of graphene in MOF imparts new electrical properties such as photoelectric transport in the otherwise insulating MOF. The results point to the possibility of using functionalized graphene to synthesize a wide range of structural motifs in MOF with adjustable metrics and properties.

Electrostatically Self-Assembled Polyoxometalates on Molecular-Dye-Functionalized Diamond

We have successfully immobilized phosphotungstic acid (PTA), a polyoxometalate, on the surface of boron-doped diamond (BDD) surface through electrostatic self-assembly of PTA on pyridinium dye-functionalized-BDD. The inorganic/organic bilayer structure on BDD is found to exhibit fast surface-confined reversible electron transfer. The molecular dye-grafted BDD can undergo controllable electrical stripping and regeneration of PTA which can be useful for electronics or sensing applications. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the use of PTA as a molecular switch in which the direction of photocurrent from diamond to methyl viologen is reversed by the surface bound PTA. Robust photocurrent converter based on such molecular system-diamond platform can operate in corrosive medium which is not tolerated by indium tin oxide electrodes.

Synthesis and Superior Optical‐Limiting Properties of Fluorene‐Thiophene‐Benzothiadazole Polymer‐Functionalized Graphene Sheets

A polymer based on fluorene, thiophene, and benzothiadazole as the donor-spacer-acceptor triad is covalently coupled to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets via diazonium coupling with phenyl bromide, followed by Suzuki coupling. These polymer-graphene hybrids show good solubility in organic solvents, such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, dichlorobenzene, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and exhibit an excellent optical-limiting effect with a 532-nm laser beam. The optical-limiting threshold energy values (0.93 J cm(-2) for G-polymer 1 and 1.12 J cm(-2) for G-polymer 2) of these G-polymer hybrids are better than that of carbon nanotubes (3.6 J cm(-2)).

Ionic liquid-functionalized carbon nanoparticles-modified cathode for efficiency enhancement in polymer solar cells

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and {6,6}-phenyl C61-butyric acid methylester (PCBM)-based polymer solar cells was increased using an ionic liquid-functionalized carbon nanoparticles (ILCNs) thin film-modified cathode. The PCE of P3HT:PCBM based-polymer solar cells with a conventional aluminum (Al)-only cathode was increased by 20%–30% when the identical devices were made with an ILCNs-modified Al cathode, but its PCE was 10% lower than that of devices with LiF/Al cathode, measured under AM1.5G illumination of 100 mW/cm2. The ILCN interlayer approach, however, offers practical advantages to LiF in terms of its solution-processability, which is compatible with low cost, large area, and flexible solar cell fabrication.The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and {6,6}-phenyl C61-butyric acid methylester (PCBM)-based polymer solar cells was increased using an ionic liquid-functionalized carbon nanoparticles (ILCNs) thin film-modified cathode. The PCE of P3HT:PCBM based-polymer solar cells with a conventional aluminum (Al)-only cathode was increased by 20%–30% when the identical devices were made with an ILCNs-modified Al cathode, but its PCE was 10% lower than that of devices with LiF/Al cathode, measured under AM1.5G illumination of 100 mW/cm2. The ILCN interlayer approach, however, offers practical advantages to LiF in terms of its solution-processability, which is compatible with low cost, large area, and flexible solar cell fabrication.

Interface modification using solution-processed liquid-functionalized carbon nanoparticles for highly efficient polymer solar cells

We developed a solution-processed ionic liquid functionalized carbon nanoparticles (ILCNs) material which was synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation graphite electrode in ionic liquid and water mixture solution. The sp2-bonds electronic structure of the carbon nanoparticles in ILCNs can decrease tunneling barrier height.