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Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 35413

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mihaela Baibarac

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Optical Processes in Nanostructured Materials, National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Interests: Raman scattering; surface enhanced Raman scattering; photoluminescence; IR spectroscopy; surface enhanced IR absorption spectroscopy; polymers; composites; carbon nanoparticles; 2D materials
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Prof. Dr. Monica Baia

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Co-Guest Editor

Faculty of Physics, Babeș-Bolyai University, M. Kogalniceanu 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: Raman and IR spectroscopy; plasmonics; SERS; nanostructures; pharmaceuticals; photocatalysts; carbon-based nanomaterials
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Dr. Christos Riziotis

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Co-Guest Editor

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece
Interests: optical materials; nanocomposites; nanomaterials; photonics; optoelectronics; devices; sensors; biosensing; industrial applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The progress recorded in the last years has highlighted a sustained effort concentrated on carbon-based nanomaterials for electrochemical applications. In this context, this Special Issue will focus on electrochemical applications of carbon nanomaterials of the graphene type, including graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, carbon quantum dots, and their composites derived from insulating and conducting polymers, inorganic semiconductors, or metallic nanoparticles. This Special Issue aims to provide information regarding electrochemical applications of carbon-based nanomaterials in the field of supercapacitors, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, (bio)sensors, and anticorrosion protection.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

Electrode materials in energy storage
Performances of carbon nanomaterials in symmetrical and asymmetrical supercapacitors
New progresses in lithium, sodium, or potassium ion batteries
Carbon nanostructures for Li–S batteries
Current progress of carbon nanomaterials for fuel cells
Carbon nanomaterials as selective electrochemical (bio)sensors
Composite coatings as corrosion resistance layers
Corrosion of electrodes in carbon nanomaterials-based nanofluids
Oxidation/reduction reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface
Chemical sensing, biosensing, nanomedicine, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis
Applications of carbon quantum dots in emerging quantum technologies

Dr. Mihaela Baibarac
Prof. Dr. Monica Baia
Dr. Christos Riziotis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Graphene
Carbon nanotubes
Carbon Quantum Dots
Carbon nanoparticles
Carbon-based composites
Supercapacitors
Batteries
Fuel Cells
Sensors
Corrosion
Electrode/electrolyte interface

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasensitive Detection of COVID-19 Causative Virus (SARS-CoV-2) Spike Protein Using Laser Induced Graphene Field-Effect Transistor

by Tian-Rui Cui, Yan-Cong Qiao, Jian-Wei Gao, Chun-Hua Wang, Yu Zhang, Lin Han, Yi Yang and Tian-Ling Ren

Molecules 2021, 26(22), 6947; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26226947 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4342

Abstract

COVID-19 is a highly contagious human infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the war with the virus is still underway. Since no specific drugs have been made available yet and there is an imbalance between supply and demand for vaccines, early diagnosis and isolation are essential to control the outbreak. Current nucleic acid testing methods require high sample quality and laboratory conditions, which cannot meet flexible applications. Here, we report a laser-induced graphene field-effect transistor (LIG-FET) for detecting SARS-CoV-2. The FET was manufactured by different reduction degree LIG, with an oyster reef-like porous graphene channel to enrich the binding point between the virus protein and sensing area. After immobilizing specific antibodies in the channel, the FET can detect the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in 15 min at a concentration of 1 pg/mL in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and 1 ng/mL in human serum. In addition, the sensor shows great specificity to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Our sensors can realize fast production for COVID-19 rapid testing, as each LIG-FET can be fabricated by a laser platform in seconds. It is the first time that LIG has realized a virus sensing FET without any sample pretreatment or labeling, which paves the way for low-cost and rapid detection of COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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11 pages, 5166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanostructure Engineering of Metal–Organic Derived Frameworks: Cobalt Phosphide Embedded in Carbon Nanotubes as an Efficient ORR Catalyst

by Syed Shoaib Ahmad Shah, Tayyaba Najam, Costas Molochas, Muhammad Altaf Nazir, Angeliki Brouzgou, Muhammad Sufyan Javed, Aziz ur Rehman and Panagiotis Tsiakaras

Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6672; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216672 - 4 Nov 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3410

Abstract

Heteroatom doping is considered an efficient strategy when tuning the electronic and structural modulation of catalysts to achieve improved performance towards renewable energy applications. Herein, we synthesized a series of carbon-based hierarchical nanostructures through the controlled pyrolysis of Co-MOF (metal organic framework) precursors followed by in situ phosphidation. Two kinds of catalysts were prepared: metal nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanotubes, and metal nanoparticles dispersed on the carbon surface. The results proved that the metal nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanotubes exhibit enhanced ORR electrocatalytic performance, owed to the enriched catalytic sites and the mass transfer facilitating channels provided by the hierarchical porous structure of the carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, the phosphidation of the metal nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanotubes (P-Co-CNTs) increases the surface area and porosity, resulting in faster electron transfer, greater conductivity, and lower charge transfer resistance towards ORR pathways. The P-Co-CNT catalyst shows a half-wave potential of 0.887 V, a Tafel slope of 67 mV dec⁻¹, and robust stability, which are comparatively better than the precious metal catalyst (Pt/C). Conclusively, this study delivers a novel path for designing multiple crystal phases with improved catalytic performance for energy devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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15 pages, 2819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modified Exfoliated Carbon Nanoplatelets as Sorbents for Ammonium from Natural Mineral Waters

by Ion Ion, Daniela Bogdan, Monica Maria Mincu and Alina Catrinel Ion

Molecules 2021, 26(12), 3541; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123541 - 10 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1651

Abstract

In this manuscript an improved sorbent based on modified exfoliated carbon nanoplatelets, applied in the removal of ammonium from aqueous samples, is presented. This sorbent showed better efficiency in comparison with the previous one obtained in our group for ammonium removal, the values of the maximum sorption capacity being improved from 10 to 12.04 mg/g. In terms of kinetics and sorption characteristic parameters, their values were also improved. Based on these results, a sorption mechanism was proposed, taking into account ion-exchange and chemisorption processes at the surface of the oxidized exfoliated carbon nanoplatelets. Future applications for simultaneous removal of other positive charged contaminants from natural waters might be possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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21 pages, 8254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anisotropic Photoluminescence of Poly(3-hexyl thiophene) and Their Composites with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Highly Separated in Metallic and Semiconducting Tubes

by Mihaela Baibarac, Grigory Arzumanyan, Monica Daescu, Adelina Udrescu and Kahramon Mamatkulov

Molecules 2021, 26(2), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26020294 - 8 Jan 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2918

Abstract

In this work, the effect of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as the mixtures of metallic and semiconducting tubes (M + S-SWNTs) as well as highly separated semiconducting (S-SWNTs) and metallic (M-SWNTs) tubes on the photoluminescence (PL) of poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) was reported. Two methods were used to prepare such composites, that is, the chemical interaction of the two constituents and the electrochemical polymerization of the 3-hexyl thiophene onto the rough Au supports modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The measurements of the anisotropic PL of these composites have highlighted a significant diminution of the angle of the binding of the P3HT films electrochemical synthetized onto Au electrodes covered with M + S-SWNTs. This change was attributed to metallic tubes, as was demonstrated using the anisotropic PL measurements carried out on the P3HT/M-SWNTs and P3HT/S-SWNTs composites. Small variations in the angle of the binding were reported in the case of the composites prepared by chemical interaction of the two constituents. The proposed mechanism to explain this behavior took into account the functionalization process of CNTs with P3HT. The experimental arguments of the functionalization process of CNTs with P3HT were shown by the UV-VIS-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy as well as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). A PL quenching process of P3HT induced both in the presence of S-SWNTs and M-SWNTs was reported, too. This process origins in the various de-excitation pathways which can be developed considering the energy levels diagram of the two constituents of each studied composite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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16 pages, 4133 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Carbon Xerogel Nanostructures with Integrated Bi and Fe Components for Hydrogen Peroxide and Heavy Metal Detection

by Carmen I. Fort, Mihai M. Rusu, Liviu C. Cotet, Adriana Vulpoi, Ileana Florea, Sandrine Tuseau-Nenez, Monica Baia, Mihaela Baibarac and Lucian Baia

Molecules 2021, 26(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010117 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2643

Abstract

Multifunctional Bi- and Fe-modified carbon xerogel composites (CXBiFe), with different Fe concentrations, were obtained by a resorcinol–formaldehyde sol–gel method, followed by drying in ambient conditions and pyrolysis treatment. The morphological and structural characterization performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption/desorption porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning/transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyses, indicates the formation of carbon-based nanocomposites with integrated Bi and Fe oxide nanoparticles. At higher Fe concentrations, Bi-Fe-O interactions lead to the formation of hybrid nanostructures and off-stoichiometric Bi₂Fe₄O₉ mullite-like structures together with an excess of iron oxide nanoparticles. To examine the effect of the Fe content on the electrochemical performance of the CXBiFe composites, the obtained powders were initially dispersed in a chitosan solution and applied on the surface of glassy carbon electrodes. Then, the multifunctional character of the CXBiFe systems is assessed by involving the obtained modified electrodes for the detection of different analytes, such as biomarkers (hydrogen peroxide) and heavy metal ions (i.e., Pb²⁺). The achieved results indicate a drop in the detection limit for H₂O₂ as Fe content increases. Even though the current results suggest that the surface modifications of the Bi phase with Fe and O impurities lower Pb²⁺ detection efficiencies, Pb²⁺ sensing well below the admitted concentrations for drinkable water is also noticed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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11 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phase Transformations and Photocatalytic Activity of Nanostructured Y₂O₃/TiO₂-Y₂TiO₅ Ceramic Such as Doped with Carbon Nanotubes

by Artem L. Kozlovskiy, Inesh Z. Zhumatayeva, Dina Mustahieva and Maxim V. Zdorovets

Molecules 2020, 25(8), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081943 - 22 Apr 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2463

Abstract

This work is devoted to the study of phase transition processes in nanostructured ceramics of the Y₂O₃/TiO₂-Y₂TiO₅ type doped with carbon nanotubes as a result of thermal annealing, as well as to the assessment of the prospects of the effect of phase composition on photocatalytic activity. By the method of X-ray phase analysis, it was found that an increase in the annealing temperature leads to the formation of the orthorhombic phase Y₂TiO₅, as well as structural ordering. Based on the obtained UV spectra, the band gap was calculated, which varies from 2.9 eV (initial sample) to 2.1 eV (annealed at a temperature of 1000 °C). During photocatalytic tests, it was established that the synthesized nanostructured ceramics Y₂O₃/TiO₂-Y₂TiO₅ doped CNTs show a fairly good photocatalytic activity in the range of 60–90% decomposition of methyl orange. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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Review

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25 pages, 4948 KiB

Open AccessReview

Resistive Chemosensors for the Detection of CO Based on Conducting Polymers and Carbon Nanocomposites: A Review

by Mihaela Savin, Carmen-Marinela Mihailescu, Carmen Moldovan, Alexandru Grigoroiu, Ion Ion and Alina Catrinel Ion

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030821 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3127

Abstract

Nanocomposite materials have seen increased adoption in a wide range of applications, with toxic gas detection, such as carbon monoxide (CO), being of particular interest for this review. Such sensors are usually characterized by the presence of CO absorption sites in their structures, with the Langmuir reaction model offering a good description of the reaction mechanism involved in capturing the gas. Among the reviewed sensors, those that combined polymers with carbonaceous materials showed improvements in their analytical parameters such as increased sensitivities, wider dynamic ranges, and faster response times. Moreover, it was observed that the CO reaction mechanism can differ when measured in mixtures with other gases as opposed to when it is detected in isolation, which leads to lower sensitivities to the target gas. To better understand such changes, we offer a complete description of carbon nanostructure-based chemosensors for the detection of CO from the sensing mechanism of each material to the water solution strategies for the composite nanomaterials and the choice of morphology for enhancing a layers’ conductivity. Then, a series of state-of-the-art resistive chemosensors that make use of nanocomposite materials is analyzed, with performance being assessed based on their detection range and sensitivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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28 pages, 10820 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Developments in Carbon-Based Nanocomposites for Fuel Cell Applications: A Review

by Tse-Wei Chen, Palraj Kalimuthu, Pitchaimani Veerakumar, King-Chuen Lin, Shen-Ming Chen, Rasu Ramachandran, Vinitha Mariyappan and Selvam Chitra

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030761 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5153

Abstract

Carbon-based nanocomposites have developed as the most promising and emerging materials in nanoscience and technology during the last several years. They are microscopic materials that range in size from 1 to 100 nanometers. They may be distinguished from bulk materials by their size, shape, increased surface-to-volume ratio, and unique physical and chemical characteristics. Carbon nanocomposite matrixes are often created by combining more than two distinct solid phase types. The nanocomposites that were constructed exhibit unique properties, such as significantly enhanced toughness, mechanical strength, and thermal/electrochemical conductivity. As a result of these advantages, nanocomposites have been used in a variety of applications, including catalysts, electrochemical sensors, biosensors, and energy storage devices, among others. This study focuses on the usage of several forms of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon aerogels, carbon nanofibers, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes, in the development of hydrogen fuel cells. These fuel cells have been successfully employed in numerous commercial sectors in recent years, notably in the car industry, due to their cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and long-cyclic durability. Further; we discuss the principles, reaction mechanisms, and cyclic stability of the fuel cells and also new strategies and future challenges related to the development of viable fuel cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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20 pages, 9748 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nanocarbon-Iridium Oxide Nanostructured Hybrids as Large Charge Capacity Electrostimulation Electrodes for Neural Repair

by Nieves Casañ-Pastor

Molecules 2021, 26(14), 4236; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26144236 - 12 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

Nanostructuring nanocarbons with IrO_x yields to material coatings with large charge capacities for neural electrostimulation, and large reproducibility in time, that carbons do not exhibit. This work shows the contributions of carbon and the different nanostructures present, as well as the impact of functionalizing graphene with oxygen and nitrogen, and the effects of including conducting polymers within the hybrid materials. Different mammalian neural growth models differentiate the roles of the substrate material in absence and in presence of applied electric fields and address optimal electrodes for the future clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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21 pages, 4212 KiB

Open AccessReview

Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell: Photoanodes, Counter Electrodes, and Electrolytes

by Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, Phat Tan Nguyen, Ha Thanh Tung and Dang Huu Phuc

Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2638; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092638 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5643

Abstract

In this study, we provide the reader with an overview of quantum dot application in solar cells to replace dye molecules, where the quantum dots play a key role in photon absorption and excited charge generation in the device. The brief shows the types of quantum dot sensitized solar cells and presents the obtained results of them for each type of cell, and provides the advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, methods are proposed to improve the efficiency performance in the next researching. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Applications of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials)

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