Abstract
Since the discovery of buckminsterfullerene over 30 years ago, sp2-hybridised carbon nanomaterials (including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene) have stimulated new science and technology across a huge range of fields. Despite the impressive intrinsic properties, challenges in processing and chemical modification continue to hinder applications. Charged carbon nanomaterials (CCNs), formed via the reduction or oxidation of these carbon nanomaterials, facilitate dissolution, purification, separation, chemical modification, and assembly. This approach provides a compelling alternative to traditional damaging and restrictive liquid phase exfoliation routes. The broad chemistry of CCNs not only provides a versatile and potent means to modify the properties of the parent nanomaterial but also raises interesting scientific issues. This review focuses on the fundamental structural forms: buckminsterfullerene, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and single-layer graphene, describing the generation of their respective charged nanocarbon species, their interactions with solvents, chemical reactivity, specific (opto)electronic properties, and emerging applications.
Highlights
Carbon was classified in three forms: amorphous carbon, graphite, and diamond
The reactivities of the fullerene ions are dictated by their molecular orbital chemistries, in sharp contrast to the eDOSdriven properties of SWCNTs/graphene ions which are the focus for this section
The factors associated with the local solvent ordering, including steric effects, hydrogen bonding, and charge-screening have been shown to be intrinsically interlinked. These observations question the effectiveness of additive models, such as DVLO and OM for understanding Charged carbon nanomaterials (CCNs) solutions, which perhaps are more analogous to solutions of simple salts, for which dissolution is driven by a free energy gain upon solvation/solvent ordering
Summary
Carbon was classified in three forms: amorphous carbon, graphite, and diamond. While the properties between CCNs vary substantially due to the differences in the degree and sign of charging, intrinsic nanocarbon electronic structure, and dimensionality, there are common factors between CCNs in terms of reactivity, synthetic approach, and structure in both solid and solution. This comprehensive review of CCNs discusses their synthesis, properties before and after charging, dissolution behavior, reactivity, and applications.
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