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Green Methodology to Prepare Few Layer Graphene (FLG)
as measured by electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy; can be stored in the form of light solid; and is easily dispersed in aqueous media. https://www.nature.com/articles/nprot.2017.142
Biograph Solutions is proud to prepare this high-quality graphene for use in biological studies.
Sustainability and Key Materials for Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen has become a fundamental element in the transition to a more sustainable energy system. However, producing it efficiently and responsibly presents a critical challenge: the need for sustainable materials that ensure its long-term viability.
In the recent The Conversation article We Need Sustainable Materials to Produce Green Hydrogen this topic is addressed from both a technical and environmental perspective. The article highlights how the materials used in key technologies, such as electrolyzers and fuel cells, must not only be effective but also environmentally responsible and accessible.
The move towards a cleaner energy system depends on adopting technologies that prioritize not only performance but also sustainability. For example, the use of critical materials such as platinum in catalysts, while efficient, raises concerns about its environmental and economic impact. To ensure that green hydrogen is a truly sustainable solution, it is necessary to innovate in the development of more responsible and scalable alternatives.
At Biograph Solutions, we share this vision of sustainability and innovation. Our work focuses on combining science and technology to create solutions that address the current energy challenges. While our activities are not directly involved in green hydrogen production, we understand the importance of contributing to the sustainable ecosystem from our areas of expertise.
We firmly believe that the path to a cleaner energy future requires interdisciplinary collaboration. Only by working together from different perspectives and areas of knowledge can we accelerate this much-needed transition.
Catalytic kinetic growth of a half-metallic hexagonal boron nitride-graphene lateral heterostructure
Unravelling the precise catalytic growth mechanism of atomically thin graphene-based lateral heterostructures is of great interest in low-dimensional physics and materials.
In this article, based on first-principles calculations and extensive screening, they show that the deposited transition metal atoms (TM = Mn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W), especially Mo, act as single-atom catalysts (SACs) to effectively promote C adatom dimerisation both energetically and kinetically on a C-dimer-unpreferred Rh(111) substrate. Meanwhile, the TM-SAC enhances the stability of the boron nitride (BN) dimer, which promotes the rapid growth of a hexagonal boron nitride-graphene (h-BN-G) lateral heterostructure.
The present findings provide significant new insights into the controllable catalytic growth of two-dimensional (2D) lateral heterostructures with several important potential applications, such as transport in spintronic devices.
DOI: 10.1039/d4ta05741d
Nanoperforated graphene hosts for stable lithium metal anodes.
Graphene has been extensively investigated as a host material for Li metal anodes due to its light weight, high electrical conductivity, large surface area and exceptional mechanical stiffness. Many studies have focused on the assembly of two-dimensional (2D) graphene sheets into three-dimensional (3D) shapes, such as lamination, spheres and carbon nanotubes; however, little attention has been paid to the technology of modifying 2D graphene sheets.
In this article, nanoperforated graphene (NPG) was prepared by a relatively simple process using metal oxide catalysts based on aqueous solutions. Nanoperforations of about 5 nm were introduced into the graphene sheet and lithiophilic carbonyl groups (C = O) were introduced at the edges, facilitating the rapid diffusion of Li+ and lowering the Li nucleation overpotential.
Compared to the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) host, the NPG host exhibited a lower lithium nucleation overpotential and a stable overpotential of ~ 30 mV for over 150 cycles as a stable host structure as a Li metal anode for Li metal batteries.
High mobility graphene field effect transistors on flexible EVA/PET foils.
Monolayer graphene is a promising material for a wide range of applications, including sensors, optoelectronics, antennas, EMR shielding, flexible electronics and conducting electrodes. Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of carbon atoms on a metal catalyst is the most scalable and cost-effective method for synthesising high-quality, large-area monolayer graphene. The usual method of transferring the CVD graphene from the catalyst to a target substrate involves a polymer support that is dissolved after the transfer process is complete. This often results in unavoidable damage to the graphene, as well as contamination and residue, unless complex and elaborate measures are taken.
In this article, is reported a simple, scalable fabrication method for flexible graphene field-effect transistors that eliminates the intermediate polymer carrier by laminating graphene directly onto office laminating films, removing the catalyst, and depositing Parylene N as the gate dielectric and encapsulation layer.
Covalently functionalized graphene oxide metal complexes: Versatile nanocatalysts for organic transformations
Catalysis is one of the fundamental pillars of green chemistry, which can help to address these challenges by advancing the design and development of greener synthetic routes for the production of industrially important organic compounds.
In this article, a new emerging family of 2D structured materials, graphene oxide nanosheets derived from layered materials, have received increasing attention because they offer broader prospects for not only tailoring the physicochemical properties of hybridised composites, but also generating additional functionality through synergistic coupling between the components. The review discuss different routes to synthesise graphene oxide and its derivatives and also
summarised the role of these nanocomposites as catalytic entities in various organic transformations such as oxidation, epoxidation, reduction, coupling reactions, etc.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921510724005002?via%3Dihub
A graphene chip for taking far fewer pills: the nanotech that wants to change neuropsychiatry
‘It is an implant in the brain and, to put it simply, it would be like having a mini neurologist in the brain that diagnoses and treats at the same time without drugs or with a smaller amount of drugs than normal through bioelectricity’, says Carolina Aguilar, founder and CEO of InBrain.
InBrain is a brilliant example of how research developed in a framework that promotes transfer such as the Parc Cientific de Barcelona generates solutions for – in the words of Alfred Nobel – ‘the benefit of mankind’.
Graphene is at the basis of many developments in nanotechnology. At Biograph Solutions we apply sustainable methodologies to prepare high quality graphene, free of exfoliants, very suitable for biological studies and applications.
Growth of 2D Metal chalcogenides
Vapour phase deposition methods have proven to be very effective in producing high quality 2D MCs. However, the traditionally high thermal budgets required to synthesise 2D MCs pose limitations, particularly for multi-component integration and specialised applications (such as flexible electronics). To overcome these challenges, it is desirable to reduce the thermal energy requirements, thus facilitating the growth of various 2D MCs at lower temperatures.
This review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in low-temperature vapour phase growth of 2D MCs. Firstly, the review highlights the recent progress in obtaining high quality 2D MCs by various low-temperature vapour phase techniques, including chemical vapour deposition (CVD), metal-organic CVD, plasma-enhanced CVD, atomic layer deposition (ALD).
The review then summarises the diverse applications of 2D MCs grown at low temperatures, covering areas such as electronics, optoelectronics, flexible devices and catalysis.
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202307587
Look at the offer of Biograph Solutions on 2D dichalcogenides
Porphyrines combined with 2D graphene and the application as photocatalyst
This article provides a comprehensive review of hybrid materials composed of graphene and other porphyrin-functionalised two-dimensional (2D) materials, focusing on their spectroscopic properties and their potential in photocatalysis. The authors review in detail the design strategies for the preparation of these materials, including covalent and non-covalent functionalisation approaches.
Graphene-porphyrin hybrid materials show significant potential in applications such as hydrogen production, CO2 reduction and pollutant degradation. The authors present a comprehensive description of the photocatalytic behaviour of these compounds, highlighting the fundamental mechanisms of the light-induced catalytic processes and the efficiency-limiting steps.
Nb Doping and Alloying of 2D WS2 by Atomic Layer Deposition for 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Transistors and HER Electrocatalysts
The wide variety of properties of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDs) makes them attractive for a wide range of applications, including electronics and electrocatalysis. To further engineer the properties of TMDs, doping or alloying is a valuable approach to obtain desirable properties from different TMDs that can be combined in a ternary material.
This article shows how Nb doping can significantly improve the contact resistivity of WS2 monolayers and their performance as field effect transistor (FET) channels. The catalytic activity of WS2 can be enhanced by alloying or doping with Nb to activate the basal plane. Nb and Ta are particularly suitable dopants as TMDs based on these metals have catalytically active basal planes.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.4c00094
Check the offer of Biograph Solutions on metal dichalcogenides
2D nanochanneled molybdenum compounds for accelerating interfacial polysulfides catalysis in Li-S batteries
Transition metal compounds (such as metal carbide, metal nitride, metal oxide and metal sulfide) exhibit much higher polarity and have attracted increasing attention. Recent research has shown that metal nitride, as a polar substrate for immobilisation and catalysis of LiPSs, has extraordinary advantages such as high electronic conductivity and strong sulfiphilicity.
In this article, 2D-MoNx with unique nanochannel and interlinked interface design is proposed as an innovative structure for optimising sulfur redox chemistry and eliminating the shuttle effect in Li-S batteries.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.202306991
Biograph Solutions offers molybdenum sulfide and oth.er 2D materials suitable for batteries
2D telluride nanosheets for energy and catalysis applications
Transition-metal tellurides (TMTs), a category of substances, display extraordinary quantum behaviours when formed into ultra-thin (nanometre-scale) layers. These materials show immense promise as functional components in catalytic processes and energy storage systems, such as power cells and miniature capacitors.
The research presents a groundbreaking solid-state lithium incorporation technique that facilitates the separation of stratified transition metal tellurides into nanoscale sheets with unparalleled speed. This approach holds great potential for the secure and expandable manufacture of superior-grade metal telluride nanosheets in substantial volumes.
2D transition metal oxide/graphene hybrid materials and their utilization for microsupercapacitors
The development of renewable energy storage solutions represents a crucial step in the fight against climate change. Supercapacitors are a vital component in the storage and utilisation of energy in electric vehicles. Dr. Weinan Xu’s contribution to the synthesis of hybrid materials composed of metal oxides and graphene can be found at https://doi.org/10.1039/d4nr00587b.
Biograph Solutions offers on-demand synthesis of such composites on graphene and other two-dimensional materials as part of its capabilities.
Water splitting at the heart of the hydrogen roadmap
The generation of hydrogen is dependent on water electrolysis, or water splitting. A new contribution to electrocatalysis with hybrid metal/hydroxide materials from Wuhan University represents a significant advancement in this field.
Biograph Solutions offers metal catalysts supported on two-dimensional materials that are ideally suited to this process.
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202308575
Supported metal catalysts on the hydrogen roadmap
Fuel cells are essential for the use of hydrogen as a fuel. Two-dimensional materials play an important role due to their catalytic capabilities. An overview from Tsinghua and Tianjin Universities. Attention is paid to mechanochemistry – a fundamental methodology in our company – and to graphene and transition metal chalcogenides, always present in our catalogue.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.109841
For the challenges highlighted by the authors, «the synthesis of 2D materials is relatively difficult» and
«the synthesis of some 2D materials with specific structural features still lacks sufficient reproducibility».
Biograph Solutions has clever solutions, always based on green chemistry.
Photoluminescent properties of a graphene/MoS2 composite
With the objective of applying these materials in optoelectronics, the Vietnamese authors present the preparation of graphene/MoS2 composites using hydrothermal methods and analyse their photoluminescent behaviour.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2024.115968
Graphene and MoS2 are available from our stock here
Green catalysts are in the mood!
One of the 12 principles of green chemistry is the use of catalysts. Their use is becoming increasingly important in the development of technologies essential to the green transition.
Naomi Halas’ lab at Rice University has discovered a transformative approach to harnessing the catalytic power of aluminium nanoparticles by annealing them in different gaseous atmospheres at high temperatures.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2321852121
«Our ultimate goal is to revolutionise catalysis, making it more accessible, efficient and environmentally friendly,» says Halas, who is a University Professor, Rice’s highest academic rank.
At Biograph Solutions, we have made a commitment to the use of green chemistry-based technologies, with a particular focus on mechanochemistry, for the preparation of metal catalysts supported on 2D materials.
Green Catalyst Coatings for Ammonia Decomposition in Microchannels for Use in Decentralized and Mobile Hydrogen Generation
Metals supported on various types of surfaces are highly effective catalysts in a range of reactions that produce hydrogen. This article outlines an innovative approach to using them in decentralised, mobile hydrogen generation from ammonia. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14020104
Biograph Solutions produces metal catalysts supported on graphene and other two-dimensional materials.
