Carbon Letters最新文献

Biomass-derived carbon materials have attracted considerable attention in electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption applications due to their advantages of low cost, light weight, and sustainability. Herein, bagasse-based porous carbon (BPC) was prepared by canonization and activation process from natural waste bagasse. The porous flower-like MoS₂/BPC composites were successfully prepared for efficient microwave absorption via hydrothermal process by in-situ formation of flower-like MoS₂ into the porous structure of BPC. The effect of hydrothermal time and hydrothermal temperature on surface morphology, degree of graphitization, surface chemical composition and impedance matching of the prepared samples was investigated. Results demonstrated that when the hydrothermal temperature was 220 °C, and the hydrothermal time was 24 h, the obtained MoS₂/BPC sample (named as MoS₂/BPC-220 ℃) showed the minimum reflection loss value (RL) of − 41.6 dB at 8.96 GHz and exhibited effective microwave absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 4.32 GHz at a relatively thin thickness of 1.5 mm. This work provides a promising way to prepare novel biomass-derived porous carbon for strong broadband electromagnetic absorption.

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Oxyfluorination treatment was used to enhance the electrochemical properties of SiOx/C-based lithium-ion battery anode materials by improving the dispersibility of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, which are conductive materials. The dispersibility, chemical, and morphological characteristics of the oxyfluorinated carbon nanotubes were confirmed through various analyses. In addition, the effect of oxyfluorination was analyzed by a lithium-ion battery performance test, and the discharge capacity and cycling stability were significantly improved. The introduction of oxygen functional groups onto the surface of the carbon nanotubes improved their dispersibility. The fluorine functional groups also acted as catalysts for the introduction of these oxygen functional groups onto the surface and improved the cycling stability by forming a LiF-based solid electrolyte interphase layer. The high discharge capacity and improved cycling stability of these lithium-ion batteries were attributed to the enhanced dispersibility of carbon nanotubes induced by oxyfluorination and the resulting enhancement of the 3D network in the anode material promoting the movement of lithium ions and electrons.

Graphene aerogels have gained widespread recognition in recent years as electrode materials for supercapacitors, primarily attributed to their excellent stability and impressive specific capacitance. However, further enhancing their specific capacitance is a formidable task. One viable strategy to overcome this hurdle is to composite them with metal oxides. In doing so, the metal oxides boost the specific capacitance of graphene aerogels, while the latter addresses the stability issues inherent in metal oxides. This article reviews recent research on Ni, Co, and Mn oxide–graphene composite aerogels in supercapacitors, summarizing their preparation processes, performance and energy storage mechanism. While existing studies have demonstrated the feasibility of metal oxide–graphene composite aerogels as supercapacitor electrodes, several challenges remain, necessitating deeper exploration by researchers in this field.

Low-loaded (1–5 wt%) platinum on carbon-based electrocatalysts (l-Pt/C) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has garnered attention as a promising approach to advancing fuel cell commercialization. Carbon materials, known for their morphological diversity, high specific surface area, ease of doping, cost-effectiveness, and high electrical conductivity, are widely used as supports for l-Pt/C catalysts. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in carbon-based l-Pt/C catalysts, focusing on three major strategies: modulating pore structure, utilizing the Pt size effect, and introducing novel Pt active sites. Each strategy is detailed, highlighting its principles, characteristics, and limitations with illustrative examples. Finally, we discuss and offer guidance for future research perspectives on highly active l-Pt/C catalysts for ORR.

In this study, simulated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy were utilized to differentiate the carbon nanoribbons (CNRs) and carbon nanobelts (CNBs) with different edges. CNRs, characterized by linear, extended π-conjugated systems, and CNBs, featuring closed-loop, cyclic structures, exhibit distinct bandgaps influenced by edge configuration and molecular structure. CNBs generally possess smaller bandgaps than GNRs due to enhanced π-conjugation and electron delocalization in their curved structures. Specifically, the bandgaps of zigzag-edged GNRs and CNBs are smaller than those of their armchair-edged counterparts. These differences in electronic states cause shifts in the position of the C1s XPS peaks. ANR and ANB exhibit lower binding energies (BEs) compared to ZNR and ZNB. The peak position differences, which are 1.3 eV between ZNR and ANR and 0.5 eV between ZNB and ANB, highlight how edge configuration can differentiate structures within the same ribbon or belt type. While ZNR and ZNB have nearly identical peak positions, rendering them hard to distinguish, the 0.9 eV difference between ANR and ANB allows for clear differentiation. In ZNR and ZNB, strong bands from C–H bending and C–C stretching were observed, with slight differences in band positions allowing for structural differentiation. In ANR and ANB, the Kekulé vibration band was most intense, appearing at lower wavenumbers in ANB. Additionally, ANB showed unique C–C stretching bands at 1483 and 1581 cm⁻¹, which were barely observed in ANR. This study lays the groundwork for future spectroscopic analysis of GNRs and CNBs.

For the commercialization of bipolar plates, several properties must be considered together. Electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, contact resistance, mechanical strength, and light weight are essential evaluation factors, with corrosion resistance and durability being significant for unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs), which must operate in electrolysis and fuel cell mode. However, improving both properties is challenging, since corrosion resistance is largely inversely proportional to conductivity. In this study, to improve both properties together, composites composed of Pb and Zn with excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance were prepared with graphite powder and formed as a coating layer on the surface of 304 stainless steel (SS304) and evaluated for electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. Among the ZnPb/C composites prepared at various ratios, Zn8Pb2/C exhibited the lowest transmittance resistance of 1.566 Ω, and improved electrical conductivity and durability compared to bare SS304.

With the emergence of the new energy field, the demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and green energy storage devices is growing with each passing day. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit tremendous potential in application due to superior electrical and mechanical properties, and the excellent lithium insertion properties make it possible to be LIBs anode materials. Based on the lithium insertion mechanism of CNTs, this paper systematically and categorically reviewed the design strategies of CNTs-based composites as LIBs anode materials, and summarized in detail the enhancement effect of CNTs fillers on various anode materials. More importantly, the superiorities and limitations of various anode materials for LIBs were evaluated. Finally, the research direction and current challenges of the industrial application of CNTs in LIBs were prospected.

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Heterocycles are an important class of compounds that are widely used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and materials. Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) offer efficient synthetic routes for producing these complex structures. The search for effective and sustainable catalytic processes in organic synthesis has led to the exploration of various nanomaterials as potential catalysts. To this end, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently emerged as promising heterogeneous catalysts for the MCR synthesis of heterocycles due to their unique properties, which include high surface area and reactivity, tunable surface chemistry, excellent electrical conductivity, recyclability, and exceptional thermal and chemical stability. This review provides a comprehensive analysis and overview of the use of CNTs as catalysts for synthesizing heterocycles via MCRs and their advantages.

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