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Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe
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Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 17260

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Crina Socaci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Research & Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies—INCDTIM, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: synthesis and characterization of graphene-based nanomaterials; (Photo)catalytic properties of graphene-based nanomaterials; synthetic organic chemistry; supramolecular chemistry
Dr. Mihaela Diana Lazar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Research & Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies—INCDTIM, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: ethanol reforming; biogas to syngas; CO2 methanation; graphene in catalysis; ordered mesoporous catalysts
Dr. Maria Mihet

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Research & Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies—INCDTIM, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; metal–organic frameworks in catalysis; graphene in catalysis; CO2 methanation; formic acid dehydrogenation

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Since the 2010 Nobel Prize for Physics awarded “for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene”, this class of interesting carbon materials has experienced continuous development due to their peculiar mechanical, thermal or electrical properties. Their applications range from sensors, electronics, photovoltaics, electricity storage, catalysis, advanced composites, and inks, to tissue engineering, drug delivery and bio-imaging. The synergy of graphene with organic or inorganic materials, leading to various composites, significantly broadens their applications.

The field of graphene-based composites is constantly growing worldwide, and this Special Issue is dedicated to the new results and discoveries brought to light in Europe. Researchers across Europe are invited to submit original research articles, short communications or review articles related to the preparation techniques of various graphene-based composites, and their applications in different domains, from energy to sensors, and from coatings to biomedicine.

Dr. Crina Socaci
Dr. Mihaela Diana Lazar
Dr. Maria Mihet
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • graphene-based composites
  • synthesis, characterization and properties
  • graphene-based composites in catalysis
  • energy applications of graphene-based composites
  • graphene-based sensors
  • biological implications of graphene-based composites

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4809 KiB  
Article
Growth and Characterization of Graphene Layers on Different Kinds of Copper Surfaces
by Peter M. Rafailov, Peter K. Sveshtarov, Vladimir B. Mehandzhiev, Ivalina Avramova, Penka Terziyska, Minko Petrov, Boyko Katranchev, Haritun Naradikian, Stefan I. Boyadjiev, Csaba Cserháti, Zoltán Erdélyi and Imre M. Szilágyi
Molecules 2022, 27(6), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27061789 - 9 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2633
Abstract
Graphene films were grown by chemical vapor deposition on Cu foil. The obtained samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron back-scatter diffraction. We discuss the time-dependent changes in the samples, estimate the thickness of emerging Cu2O [...] Read more.
Graphene films were grown by chemical vapor deposition on Cu foil. The obtained samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron back-scatter diffraction. We discuss the time-dependent changes in the samples, estimate the thickness of emerging Cu2O beneath the graphene and check the orientation-dependent affinity to oxidation of distinct Cu grains, which also governs the manner in which the initial strong Cu-graphene coupling and strain in the graphene lattice is released. Effects of electropolishing on the quality and the Raman response of the grown graphene layers are studied by microtexture polarization analysis. The obtained data are compared with the Raman signal of graphene after transfer on glass substrate revealing the complex interaction of graphene with the Cu substrate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe)
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19 pages, 21347 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Sulfonated Graphene Oxide as the Base Material for Novel Proton Exchange Membranes
by Andrea Basso Peressut, Matteo Di Virgilio, Antonella Bombino, Saverio Latorrata, Esa Muurinen, Riitta L. Keiski and Giovanni Dotelli
Molecules 2022, 27(5), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051507 - 23 Feb 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2870
Abstract
This work deals with the development of graphene oxide (GO)-based self-assembling membranes as possible innovative proton conductors to be used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Nowadays, the most adopted electrolyte is Chemours’ Nafion; however, it reveals significant deficiencies such as strong [...] Read more.
This work deals with the development of graphene oxide (GO)-based self-assembling membranes as possible innovative proton conductors to be used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Nowadays, the most adopted electrolyte is Chemours’ Nafion; however, it reveals significant deficiencies such as strong dehydration at high temperature and low humidity, which drastically reduces its proton conductivity. The presence of oxygenated moieties in the GO framework makes it suitable for functionalization, which is required to enhance the promising, but insufficient, proton-carrying features of GO. In this study, sulfonic acid groups (–SO3H) that should favor proton transport were introduced in the membrane structure via a reaction between GO and concentrated sulfuric acid. Six acid-to-GO molar ratios were adopted in the synthesis procedure, giving rise to final products with different sulfonation degrees. All the prepared samples were characterized by means of TGA, ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, temperature-dependent XRD, SEM and EDX, which pointed out morphological and microstructural changes resulting from the functionalization stage, confirming its effectiveness. Regarding functional features, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as well as measurements of ion exchange capacity (IEC) were carried out to describe the behavior of the various samples, with pristine GO and commercial Nafion® 212 used as reference. EIS tests were performed at five different temperatures (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 °C) under high (95%) and medium (42%) relative humidity conditions. Compared to both GO and Nafion® 212, the sulfonated specimens demonstrate an increase in the number of ion-carrying groups, as proved by both IEC and EIS tests, which reveal the enhanced proton conductivity of these novel membranes. Specifically, an acid-to-GO molar ratio of 10 produces a six-fold improvement of IEC (4.23 meq g−1) with respect to pure GO (0.76 meq g−1), while a maximum eight-fold improvement (5.72 meq g−1) is achieved in SGO-15. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe)
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19 pages, 9116 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Preparation and Design for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
by Monica Dan, Adriana Vulcu, Sebastian A. Porav, Cristian Leostean, Gheorghe Borodi, Oana Cadar and Camelia Berghian-Grosan
Molecules 2021, 26(13), 3858; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26133858 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2527
Abstract
Four N-doped graphene materials with a nitrogen content ranging from 8.34 to 13.1 wt.% are prepared by the ball milling method. This method represents an eco-friendly mechanochemical process that can be easily adapted for industrial-scale productivity and allows both the exfoliation of graphite [...] Read more.
Four N-doped graphene materials with a nitrogen content ranging from 8.34 to 13.1 wt.% are prepared by the ball milling method. This method represents an eco-friendly mechanochemical process that can be easily adapted for industrial-scale productivity and allows both the exfoliation of graphite and the synthesis of large quantities of functionalized graphene. These materials are characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry measurements, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy, and then, are tested towards the oxygen reduction reaction by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode methods. Their responses towards ORR are analysed in correlation with their properties and use for the best ORR catalyst identification. However, even though the mechanochemical procedure and the characterization techniques are clean and green methods (i.e., water is the only solvent used for these syntheses and investigations), they are time consuming and, generally, a low number of materials can be prepared, characterized and tested. In order to eliminate some of these limitations, the use of regression learner and reverse engineering methods are proposed for facilitating the optimization of the synthesis conditions and the materials’ design. Thus, the machine learning algorithms are applied to data containing the synthesis parameters, the results obtained from different characterization techniques and the materials response towards ORR to quickly provide predictions that allow the best synthesis conditions or the best electrocatalysts’ identification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe)
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Review

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33 pages, 13806 KiB  
Review
3D Graphene Foam by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Synthesis, Properties, and Energy-Related Applications
by Cristina Antonela Banciu, Florin Nastase, Anca-Ionela Istrate and Lucia Monica Veca
Molecules 2022, 27(11), 3634; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27113634 - 6 Jun 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4748
Abstract
In this review, we highlight recent advancements in 3D graphene foam synthesis by template-assisted chemical vapor deposition, as well as their potential energy storage and conversion applications. This method offers good control of the number of graphene layers and porosity, as well as [...] Read more.
In this review, we highlight recent advancements in 3D graphene foam synthesis by template-assisted chemical vapor deposition, as well as their potential energy storage and conversion applications. This method offers good control of the number of graphene layers and porosity, as well as continuous connection of the graphene sheets. The review covers all the substrate types, catalysts, and precursors used to synthesize 3D graphene by the CVD method, as well as their most viable energy-related applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe)
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17 pages, 1633 KiB  
Review
CO2 Hydrogenation Catalyzed by Graphene-Based Materials
by Maria Mihet, Monica Dan and Mihaela D. Lazar
Molecules 2022, 27(11), 3367; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27113367 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3399
Abstract
In the context of an increased interest in the abatement of CO2 emissions generated by industrial activities, CO2 hydrogenation processes show an important potential to be used for the production of valuable compounds (methane, methanol, formic acid, light olefins, aromatics, syngas [...] Read more.
In the context of an increased interest in the abatement of CO2 emissions generated by industrial activities, CO2 hydrogenation processes show an important potential to be used for the production of valuable compounds (methane, methanol, formic acid, light olefins, aromatics, syngas and/or synthetic fuels), with important benefits for the decarbonization of the energy sector. However, in order to increase the efficiency of the CO2 hydrogenation processes, the selection of active and selective catalysts is of utmost importance. In this context, the interest in graphene-based materials as catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation has significantly increased in the last years. The aim of the present paper is to review and discuss the results published until now on graphene-based materials (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, or N-dopped graphenes) used as metal-free catalysts or as catalytic support for the thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2. The reactions discussed in this paper are CO2 methanation, CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, CO2 transformation into formic acid, CO2 hydrogenation to high hydrocarbons, and syngas production from CO2. The discussions will focus on the effect of the support on the catalytic process, the involvement of the graphene-based support in the reaction mechanism, or the explanation of the graphene intervention in the hydrogenation process. Most of the papers emphasized the graphene’s role in dispersing and stabilizing the metal and/or oxide nanoparticles or in preventing the metal oxidation, but further investigations are needed to elucidate the actual role of graphenes and to propose reaction mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Graphene-Based Composites in Europe)
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