| 1. |
- Ferrari, A. C., et al.
(author)
-
Science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems
- 2015
-
In: Nanoscale. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2040-3372 .- 2040-3364. ; 7:11, s. 4598-4810
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems, targeting an evolution in technology, that might lead to impacts and benefits reaching into most areas of society. This roadmap was developed within the framework of the European Graphene Flagship and outlines the main targets and research areas as best understood at the start of this ambitious project. We provide an overview of the key aspects of graphene and related materials (GRMs), ranging from fundamental research challenges to a variety of applications in a large number of sectors, highlighting the steps necessary to take GRMs from a state of raw potential to a point where they might revolutionize multiple industries. We also define an extensive list of acronyms in an effort to standardize the nomenclature in this emerging field.
|
|
| 2. |
- Durso, M., et al.
(author)
-
Biomimetic graphene for enhanced interaction with the external membrane of astrocytes
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Materials Chemistry B. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2050-7518 .- 2050-750X. ; 6:33, s. 5335-5342
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Graphene and graphene substrates display huge potential as material interfaces for devices and biomedical tools targeting the modulation or recovery of brain functionality. However, to be considered reliable neural interfaces, graphene-derived substrates should properly interact with astrocytes, favoring their growth and avoiding adverse gliotic reactions. Indeed, astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the human brain and they have a crucial physiological role to maintain its homeostasis and modulate synaptic transmission. In this work, we describe a new strategy based on the chemical modification of graphene oxide (GO) with a synthetic phospholipid (PL) to improve interaction of GO with brain astroglial cells. The PL moieties were grafted on GO sheets through polymeric brushes obtained by atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ATRP) between acryloyl-modified PL and GO nanosheets modified with a bromide initiator. The adhesion of primary rat cortical astrocytes on GO-PL substrates increased by about three times with respect to that on glass substrates coated with standard adhesion agents (i.e. poly-d-lysine, PDL) as well as with respect to that on non-functionalized GO. Moreover, we show that astrocytes seeded on GO-PL did not display significant gliotic reactivity, indicating that the material interface did not cause a detrimental inflammatory reaction when interacting with astroglial cells. Our results indicate that the reported biomimetic approach could be applied to neural prosthesis to improve cell colonization and avoid glial scar formation in brain implants. Additionally, improved adhesion could be extremely relevant in devices targeting neural cell sensing/modulation of physiological activity.
|
|
| 3. |
- Greijer, Helena, et al.
(author)
-
Tuneable conductivity at extreme electric fields in ZnO tetrapod-silicone composites for high-voltage power cable insulation
- 2022
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322 .- 2045-2322. ; 12:1, s. 6035-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Resistive Field Grading Materials (RFGM) are used in critical regions in the electrical insulation system of high-voltage direct-current cable systems. Here, we describe a novel type of RFGM, based on a percolated network of zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapods in a rubber matrix. The electrical conductivity of the composite increases by a factor of 108 for electric fields > 1 kV mm-1, as a result of the highly anisotropic shape of the tetrapods and their significant bandgap (3.37 eV). We demonstrate that charge transport at fields < 1 kV mm-1 is dominated by thermally activated hopping of charge carriers across spatially, as well as energetically, localized states at the ZnO-polymer interface. At higher electric fields (> 1 kV mm-1) band transport in the semiconductive tetrapods triggers a large increase in conductivity. These geometrically enhanced ZnO semiconductors outperform standard additives such as SiC particles and ZnO micro varistors, providing a new class of additives to achieve variable conductivity in high-voltage cable system applications.
|
|
| 4. |
- Kovtun, Alessandro, et al.
(author)
-
Accurate chemical analysis of graphene-based materials using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
- 2019
-
In: Carbon. - : Elsevier BV. - 0008-6223. ; 143, s. 268-275
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A simple, fast and general protocol for quantitative analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data provides accurate estimations of chemical species in graphene and related materials (GRMs). XPS data are commonly used to estimate the quality of and defects in graphene and graphene oxide (GO), by comparing carbon and oxygen 1s XPS peaks, obtaining an O/C ratio. This approach, however, cannot be used in the presence of extraneous oxygen contamination. The protocol, based on quantitative line-shape analysis of C 1s signals, uses asymmetric pseudo- Voigt line-shapes (APV), in contrast to Gaussian-based approaches conventionally used in fitting XPS spectra, thus allowing better accuracy in quantifying C 1s contributions from graphitic carbon (sp2), defects (sp3 carbon), carbons bonded to hydroxyl and epoxy groups, and from carbonyl and carboxyl groups. The APV protocol was evaluated on GRMs with O/C ratios ranging from 0.02 to 0.30 with film thicknesses from monolayers to bulk-like (>30nm) layers and also applied to previously published data, showing better results compared to those from conventional XPS fitting protocols. Based uniquely on C 1s data, the APV protocol can quantify O/C ratio and the presence of specific functional groups in GRMs even on SiOx, substrates, or in samples containing water.
|
|
| 5. |
- Kovtun, Alessandro, et al.
(author)
-
Benchmarking of graphene-based materials: Real commercial products versus ideal graphene
- 2019
-
In: 2D Materials. - : IOP Publishing. - 2053-1583. ; 6:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There are tens of industrial producers claiming to sell graphene and related materials (GRM), mostly as solid powders. Recently the quality of commercial GRM has been questioned, and procedures for GRM quality control were suggested using Raman Spectroscopy or Atomic Force Microscopy. Such techniques require dissolving the sample in solvents, possibly introducing artefacts. A more pragmatic approach is needed, based on fast measurements and not requiring any assumption on GRM solubility. To this aim, we report here an overview of the properties of commercial GRM produced by selected companies in Europe, USA and Asia. We benchmark: (A) size, (B) exfoliation grade and (C) oxidation grade of each GRM versus the ones of 'ideal' graphene and, most importantly, versus what reported by the producer. In contrast to previous works, we report explicitly the names of the GRM producers and we do not re-dissolve the GRM in solvents, but only use techniques compatible with industrial powder metrology. A general common trend is observed: Products having low defectivity (%sp 2 bonds >95%) feature low surface area (<200 m 2 g -1 ), while highly exfoliated GRM show a lower sp 2 content, demonstrating that it is still challenging to exfoliate GRM at industrial level without adding defects.
|
|
| 6. |
- Kovtun, Alessandro, et al.
(author)
-
Graphene oxide–polysulfone filters for tap water purification, obtained by fast microwave oven treatment
- 2019
-
In: Nanoscale. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2040-3372 .- 2040-3364. ; 11:11, s. 22780-22787
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The availability of clean, pure water is a major challenge for the future of our society. 2-Dimensional nanosheets of GO seem promising as nanoporous adsorbent or filters for water purification; however, their processing in macroscopic filters is challenging, and their cost vs. standard polymer filters is too high. Here, we describe a novel approach to combine graphene oxide (GO) sheets with commercial polysulfone (PSU) membranes for improved removal of organic contaminants from water. The adsorption physics of contaminants on the PSU-GO composite follows Langmuir and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) models, with partial swelling and intercalation of molecules in between the GO layers. Such a mechanism, well-known in layered clays, has not been reported previously for graphene or GO. Our approach requires minimal amounts of GO, deposited directly on the surface of the polymer, followed by stabilization using microwaves or heat. The purification efficiency of the PSU-GO composites is significantly improved vs. benchmark commercial PSU, as demonstrated by the removal of two model contaminants, rhodamine B and ofloxacin. The excellent stability of the composite is confirmed by extensive (100 hours) filtration tests in commercial water cartridges.
|
|
| 7. |
- Pathipati, Srinivasa Rao, et al.
(author)
-
The role of charge transfer at reduced graphene oxide/organic semiconductor interface on the charge transport properties
- 2020
-
In: Organic Electronics: physics, materials, applications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1566-1199. ; 77
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The effect of 1-pyrenesulfonicacid sodium salt (1-PSA), tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and tetrafluoro-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ) on charge transport properties of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is examined by measuring the transfer characteristics of field-effect transistors and co-planar time-of-flight photocurrent technique. Evidence of p-type doping and a reduction of mobility of electrons in RGO upon deposition of these materials is observed. Time-resolved photocurrent measurements show a reduction in electron mobility even at submonolayer coverage of these materials. The variation of transit time with different coverages reveals that electron mobility decreases with increasing the surface coverage of 1-PSA, TCNE and F4-TCNQ to a certain extent, while at higher coverage the electron mobility is slightly recovered. All three molecules show the same trend in charge carrier mobility variation with coverage, but with different magnitude. Among all three molecules, 1-PSA acts as weak electron acceptor compared to TCNE and F4-TCNQ. The additional fluorine moieties in F4-TCNQ provides excellent electron withdrawing capability compared to TCNE. The experimental results are consistent with the density functional theory calculations.
|
|
| 8. |
- Poletti, Fabrizio, et al.
(author)
-
Continuous capillary-flow sensing of glucose and lactate in sweat with an electrochemical sensor based on functionalized graphene oxide
- 2021
-
In: Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical. - : Elsevier BV. - 0925-4005. ; 344
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We describe an electrochemical device for the simultaneous monitoring of glucose and lactate in sweat, based on enzymatic sensors exploiting capillary flow to induce continuous, stable sensing. The enzymes, namely glucose oxidase and lactate oxidase, were anchored to a graphene oxide and chitosan composite (GO-Ch) of original synthesis, to achieve stable deposition of the bioreceptors on the electrochemical platform. We tested both biosensors on a realistic device architecture: they were embedded in a nitrocellulose strip, to exploit capillary force to induce a continuous flux of sweat on the sensor platform, ensuring the constant renewal of sample. We could achieve good sensitivity at potentials close to zero by using Prussian Blue as redox mediator, thus avoiding interference from other chemical species present in the complex matrix. The sensing signal was stable and linear over two hours in a concentration range of glucose and lactate between the limit of quantification (32 and 68 nM, respectively) and the upper limit of linearity (3.8 and 50.0 mM, respectively). The device is simple, robust, stable, and can be easily worn without the direct contact of the active part with the skin, making it suitable for simultaneous monitoring of glucose and lactate in human sweat.
|
|
| 9. |
- Poletti, Fabrizio, et al.
(author)
-
Graphene-Paper-Based Electrodes on Plastic and Textile Supports as New Platforms for Amperometric Biosensing
- 2022
-
In: Advanced Functional Materials. - : Wiley. - 1616-3028 .- 1616-301X. ; 32:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The possibility of exfoliating graphite into graphene sheets allows the researchers to produce a material, termed “graphene paper” (G-paper), conductive as graphite but more flexible and processable. G-paper is already used for electronic applications, like conductors, antennas, and heaters, outperforming metal conductors thanks to its high flexibility, lightness, chemical stability, and compatibility with polymeric substrates. Here, the effectiveness in the use of G-paper for the realization of electrodes on flexible plastic substrates and textiles, and their applicability as amperometric sensors are demonstrated. The performance of these devices is compared with commercial platforms made of carbon-based inks, finding that they outperform commercial devices in sensing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), a key molecule for enzymatic biosensing; the electrodes can achieve state-of-the-art sensitivity (107.2 μA mm−1 cm−2) and limit of detection (0.6 × 10−6 m) with no need of additional functionalization. Thanks to this property, the stable deposition of a suitable enzyme, namely lactate dehydrogenase, on the electrode surface is used as a proof of concept of the applicability of this new platform for the realization of a biosensor. The possibility of having a single material suitable for antennas, electronics, and now sensing opens new opportunities for smart fabrics in wearable electronic applications.
|
|
| 10. |
- Scidà, A., et al.
(author)
-
Application of graphene-based flexible antennas in consumer electronic devices
- 2018
-
In: Materials Today. - : Elsevier BV. - 1369-7021 .- 1873-4103. ; 21:3, s. 223-230
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We describe the fabrication and characterization of Near-Field Communication (NFC) devices based on highly flexible, carbon-based antennas composed of stacked graphene multilayers. This material features a high value of conductivity (4.20 * 10 5 S/m) comparable to monocrystalline graphite, but is much more flexible and processable. We first studied the replacement of metal with carbon antennas using computer modeling, to select the best design. Then we manufactured several devices to be used according to the communication protocol ISO/IEC 15693. The inductance of the G-paper antennas was tested before and after hundreds of thousands of bending cycles at bending radii of 45 and 90 mm. During bending the self-resonance frequency and inductance peak showed minimal variation and the resistance at 1 MHz changed from 33.09 Ω to 34.18 Ω outperforming standard, commercial metallic antennas. The devices were successfully tested by exchanging data with a smartphone and other commercial NFC readers, matching the performance of standard, commercial metallic antennas. The graphene antennas could be deposited on different standard polymeric substrates or on textiles. Smart cards, flexible NFC tags and wearable NFC bracelets were prepared in this way to be used in electronic keys, business cards and other typical NFC applications.
|
|
| 11. |
- Valorosi, Filippo, et al.
(author)
-
Graphene and related materials in hierarchical fiber composites: Production techniques and key industrial benefits
- 2020
-
In: Composites Science and Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0266-3538. ; 185
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fiber-reinforced composites (FRC) are nowadays one of the most widely used class of high-tech materials. In particular, sporting goods, cars and the wings and fuselages of airplanes are made of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC). CFRC are mature commercial products, but are still challenging materials. Their mechanical and electrical properties are very good along the fiber axis, but can be very poor perpendicular to it; interfacial interactions have to be tailored for specific applications to avoid crack propagation– and delamination; fiber production includes high-temperature treatments of adverse environmental impact, leading to high costs. Recent research work shows that the performance of CFRC can be improved by addition of graphene or related 2-dimensional materials (GRM). Graphene is a promising additive for CFRC because: 1) Its all-carbon aromatic structure is similar to the one of carbon fiber (CF). 2) Its 2-dimensional shape, high aspect ratio, high flexibility and mechanical strength allow it to be used as a coating on the surface of fiber, or as a mechanical/electrical connection between different fiber layers. 3) Its tunable surface chemistry allows its interaction to be enhanced with either the fiber or the polymer matrix used in the composite and 4) in contrast to carbon fibers or nanotubes, it is easily produced on a large scale at room temperature, without metal catalysts. Here, we summarize the key strategic advantages that could be obtained in this way, and some of the recent results that have been obtained in this field within the Graphene Flagship project and worldwide.
|
|
