Leonardo D. Machado

Electrically, Chemically, and Photonically Powered Torsional and Tensile Actuation of Hybrid Carbon Nanotube Yarn Muscles

Nanotube Yarn Actuators Actuators are used to convert heat, light, or electricity into a twisting or tensile motion, and are often described as artificial muscles. Most materials that show actuation either provide larger forces with small-amplitude motions, such as the alloy NiTi, or provide larger motions with much less force, such as polymeric materials. Other problems with such actuators can include slow response times and short lifetimes. Lima et al. (p. 928, see the Perspective by Schulz) show that a range of guest-filled, twist-spun carbon nanotube yarns can be used for linear or torsional actuation, can solve the problems of speed and lifetime, and do not require electrolytes for operation. Thermally driven actuators use a guest material within carbon nanotube yarns to generate fast torsional and tensile motions. Artificial muscles are of practical interest, but few types have been commercially exploited. Typical problems include slow response, low strain and force generation, short cycle life, use of electrolytes, and low energy efficiency. We have designed guest-filled, twist-spun carbon nanotube yarns as electrolyte-free muscles that provide fast, high-force, large-stroke torsional and tensile actuation. More than a million torsional and tensile actuation cycles are demonstrated, wherein a muscle spins a rotor at an average 11,500 revolutions/minute or delivers 3% tensile contraction at 1200 cycles/minute. Electrical, chemical, or photonic excitation of hybrid yarns changes guest dimensions and generates torsional rotation and contraction of the yarn host. Demonstrations include torsional motors, contractile muscles, and sensors that capture the energy of the sensing process to mechanically actuate.

Nonzero Gap Two-Dimensional Carbon Allotrope from Porous Graphene

Graphene is considered one of the most promising materials for future electronics. However, in its pristine form, graphene is a gapless material, which imposes limitations to its use in some electronic applications. To solve this problem, many approaches have been tried, such as physical and chemical functionalizations. These processes compromise some of the desirable graphene properties. In this work, based on ab initio quantum molecular dynamics, we showed that a two-dimensional carbon allotrope, named biphenylene carbon (BPC), can be obtained from selective dehydrogenation of porous graphene. BPC presents a nonzero bandgap and well-delocalized frontier orbitals. Synthetic routes to BPC are also addressed.

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Monolayer Rhenium Disulfide (ReS2)

The direct synthesis of monolayer and multilayer ReS2 by chemical vapor deposition at a low temperature of 450 °C is reported. Detailed characterization of this material is performed using various spectroscopy and microscopy methods. Furthermore initial field-effect transistor characteristics are evaluated, which highlight the potential in being used as an n-type semiconductor.

Unzipping Carbon Nanotubes at High Impact

The way nanostructures behave and mechanically respond to high impact collision is a topic of intrigue. For anisotropic nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes, this response will be complicated based on the impact geometry. Here we report the result of hypervelocity impact of nanotubes against solid targets and show that impact produces a large number of defects in the nanotubes, as well as rapid atom evaporation, leading to their unzipping along the nanotube axis. Fully atomistic reactive molecular dynamics simulations are used to gain further insights of the pathways and deformation and fracture mechanisms of nanotubes under high energy mechanical impact. Carbon nanotubes have been unzipped into graphene nanoribbons before using chemical treatments but here the instability of nanotubes against defect formation, fracture, and unzipping is revealed purely through mechanical impact.

Zirconia-Nanoparticle-Reinforced Morphology-Engineered Graphene-Based Foams

The morphology of graphene-based foams can be engineered by reinforcing them with nanocrystalline zirconia, thus improving their oil-adsorption capacity; This can be observed experimentally and explained theoretically. Low zirconia fractions yield flaky microstructures where zirconia nanoparticles arrest propagating cracks. Higher zirconia concentrations possess a mesh-like interconnected structure where the degree of coiling is dependant on the local zirconia content.

Strain Rate Dependent Shear Plasticity in Graphite Oxide

Graphene oxide film is made of stacked graphene layers with chemical functionalities, and we report that plasticity in the film can be engineered by strain rate tuning. The deformation behavior and plasticity of such functionalized layered systems is dominated by shear slip between individual layers and interaction between functional groups. Stress-strain behavior and theoretical models suggest that the deformation is strongly strain rate dependent and undergoes brittle to ductile transition with decreasing strain rate.

A brief review on syntheses, structures, and applications of nanoscrolls

Nanoscrolls are papyrus-like nanostructures which present unique properties due to their open ended morphology. These properties can be exploited in a plethora of technological applications, leading to the design of novel and interesting devices. During the past decade, significant advances in the synthesis and characterization of these structures have been made, but many challenges still remain. In this mini review we provide an overview on their history, experimental synthesis methods, basic properties and application perspectives.

Enhanced supercapacitor performance of a 3D architecture tailored using atomically thin rGO–MoS2 2D sheets

A 3D architecture is fabricated using 2D nano-sheets of GO and MoS2 as the building blocks by a facile, one-pot chronoamperometry method to achieve a conductive additive free, binder free and scalable supercapacitor electrode. The superior electrochemical properties of the 3D PPy-rGO–MoS2 (PGMo) are due to its porous structure, thin wall, high surface area and high electrical conductivity that endow rapid transportation of electrolyte ions and electrons throughout the electrode matrix. The synergistic effect between the components in a proper ratio improves the supercapacitor performance and material stability of PGMo. The possible correlation of the structure and electrochemical performance of the 3D ternary composite is backed by a fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study. The high specific capacitance (387 F g−1) and impressive cycling stability (>1000 cycles) estimated for PGMo open up an opportunity to consider the 3D ternary nanostructures as cutting edge materials for energy storage solutions.

Insight into In Situ Amphiphilic Functionalization of Few-Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets.

A facile route toward functionalized amphiphilic layered transition-metal dichalcogenide nanosheets through in situ polymerization of polystyrene-polyacrylamide copolymers is established. The attachment of copolymers greatly affects their dispersibility in different kinds of solvents. Surface-tension components, polarity, and coordination effects of the copolymer are found to be the main factors affecting the dispersibility.

Synthesis and porous h-BN 3D architectures for effective humidity and gas sensors

3D (three dimensional) architectures synthesised using an easily scalable solid state method which results in an interconnected network of porous h-BN sheets with boron trioxide are reported in this study. The boron trioxide acts as a nucleating agent for the formation of laterally large nanosheets of h-BN with a low density and increases the specific surface area. The stable form shows improved mechanical properties (experimentally and using MD simulation) and serves as a suitable material for humidity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensor applications. The sensor shows stability for up to several months without losing its sensitivity.