Graphene-based Nanocomposites Research Articles

The research progress on photocatalytic performance of graphene-based nanocomposites

As soon as nanomaterials were discovered, they attracted a lot of attention because of their unique and excellent properties and became major hot research. They are regarded as the most promising materials in the 21st century. With the growth of industrial production, photocatalytic technology has been pursued as an efficient, green, and economical way of industrial production and treatment of pollution. However, the low light energy utilization of traditional semiconductor materials is a drawback that cannot be ignored. Graphene, as one of the most common and widely used 2D nanomaterials, has a special structure and characteristics that can effectively solve this problem. The paper briefly introduces the structure, properties, preparation method, and basic principle of photocatalysis of graphene. At the same time, a review is provided on the application of graphene-based composite materials in the field of photocatalysis, including dye degradation, photocatalytic treatment of other emerging pollutants, photocatalytic treatment of air pollutants, and water decomposition. By summarizing and integrating the photocatalytic properties of several graphene-based composites, this article lays the foundation and helps to discover new graphene composites.

Durable graphene-based alkyd nanocomposites for surface coating applications.

Recently, the scientific community's main goal is the long-term sustainability. Vegetable oils are easily accessible, non-depletable, and cost-effective materials. Vegetable oils are used to prepare polymeric alkyd surfaces. Novel and exciting designs of alkyd/graphene nanocomposites have provided eco-friendly thermal stability and protective coating surfaces. This review has briefly described important graphene-based alkyd nanocomposites along with their applications as protective coatings. These alkyd composites have high hydrophobicity, corrosion resistance, and durability. Graphene-based alkyd nanocoatings have many industrial and research interests because of their exceptional thermal and chemical properties. This work introduces an advanced horizon for developing protective nanocomposite coatings. The anti-corrosion properties and coatings' longevity may be improved by combining the synergistic effects of hybrid nanofillers introduced in this work.

Thermal Properties of Graphene and Graphene-Based Nanocomposites: A Review

Thermal Properties of Graphene and Graphene-Based Nanocomposites: A Review

Stimuli-responsive Graphene-Polysaccharide Nanocomposites for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

Abstract:: Natural polysaccharide-based nanoparticles are known for their non-toxic nature and diverse medical applications. Graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles show potential in cancer treat-ment due to their ability to target medication delivery and influence ROS generation. These nanocomposites are versatile in gene transport, therapy, and photodynamic therapy, especially when surface-modified. Proper dispersion and functionalization of GO in polymer matrices are crucial, with examples like hyaluronic acid-functionalized GO offering versatile platforms for cancer drug administration. The potential of graphene oxide extends to cancer phototherapy, electronic nanowires, hydrogels, antibacterial nanocomposites, and environmental applications. When activated by polysaccharides, graphene-based nanocomposites exhibit anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, making them valuable across various industries, including water treat-ment.

Electrochemical approach for nonenzymatic glucose sensing with noble metal-free 2D graphene-based ternary nanocomposite

The present work demonstrates a new nanocomposite of ZnO, SnO2, and Graphene, which is more effective and inexpensive for glucose detection than existing materials. Further, ZnO and SnO2 is a desirable selection for glucose sensing application because of its advantageous characteristics, which include high adsorption capacity, broad surface area, good catalytic activity, promotes effective electron transport, and biocompatibility. These materials were synthesized through a self-assembly method. The synthesized ZnO-G-SnO2 nanocomposite was then assessed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), Photocurrent testing, and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The ZnO-G-SnO2 nanocomposite was used in the fabrication of an enzyme-free biosensor, which displayed good sensitivity and selectivity in glucose solution through cyclic voltammetry. These results indicate that ZnO-G-SnO2 is useful for glucose detection with efficient electrocatalytic activity in the direction of organically significant concentrations with low current density (0.0010 Ma/cm2) and 0.5 mmol/L at the potential from ‐1.0 to 1.0 v. Altogether, this nanocomposite biosensor can detect glucose accurately and with good sensitivity.

Photolysis and photocatalysis of methylene blue by graphene oxide nanoparticle under sunlight irradiation

The Hummer technique was utilised to produce graphene oxide (GO),  for this research.  X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used to examine the structural properties of  GO nanoparticles.By boosting adsorption, expanding the light absorption range, and blocking electron-hole pair recombination, GO enhances the photocatalytic efficiency. The GO have enormous potential uses in the degradation of organic contaminants from wastewater, and their manufacturing is expected to be scalable using this simple process. The improved catalytic activity of  GO   nanoparticle has been linked to the greater adsorption susceptibility of dye molecules, high charge separation, and suppressed recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs brought about by the presence of GO. These results demonstrated the promising prospects for future use of graphene-based semiconductor nanocomposites as visible-light photocatalysts in the field of water purification.

Thermonanomechanics of graphene oxide-M13 bacteriophage nanocomposites -towards graphene-based nanodevices

The self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) and M13 bacteriophage results in the formation of micro-porous structures, known as GraPhage13 aerogels (GPA). Given the limited applications of aerogels in industry due to their nanomechanical properties, along with the previously observed temperature-dependent characteristics in graphene-based nanocomposites, a thorough exploration of the thermosensitive nanomechanical properties of GPA is essential. Herein, a comprehensive characterisation of the morphology, composition, and spectroscopic analysis of the GPA for a range of temperatures has been conducted and correlated with its nanomechanical properties. Elevated temperatures have been found to lead to gradual removal of oxygen-containing functional groups (OCFGs) from GPA, resulting in increased structural defects and reduced stiffness. Notably, unique nanomechanical behaviours of GPA have been further identified, where the thermal expansion of sp3 bonds exceeds that of a crystalline sp3 structure, while the thermal contraction of sp2 bonds in GPA is found to be between graphite and GO. This underscores the impact of GO functionalisation on the thermal expansion behaviour of GPA. The obtained insights enhance the overall comprehension of the temperature annealing impact on GPA and highlight the tunability of its nanomechanical properties, showcasing a broad potential of this novel nanocomposite across a diverse range of applications.

Intermolecular interactions in graphene and oxidized graphene nanocomposites

The spatial arrangement of graphene (G) or graphene oxide (GO) nanoplate agglomerations will significantly impact the material properties of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites. Therefore, we investigated the stability of G and GO agglomerates without the presence of a polymer network using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which was not considered in our previous work (Reil, 2022) [15]; [16]. G and GO nanoplates, often procured in powder forms, display a significant volume difference by visual observation. To this end, MD simulations were performed to model G or GO agglomerations in the powder form, including the effects of varied plate dimensions and localized surface oxidation. G plates on average released 231 kcal/mol upon agglomerating into aligned stacks, closely matching results in the literature. Simulations of GO resulted in agglomerations of clusters of plates rather than aligned stacks, releasing on average 16 % less energy than G. The clustered arrangement of GO plate agglomerates in simulations occupied a volume approximately 7x that of the aligned stack G plates, closely replicating the experimentally determined volume ratio of 10x. This research could yield further insight into the behavior of G and GO when in the presence of various polymer networks, which could be different than in isolation.

Solar-activated and hydrothermally synthesized effective rGO/Ag2S composites for the destruction of naphthol green B dye and antibacterial applications.

Graphene-based nanocomposites are developing as a new class of materials with several uses. The varied weight percentages of rGO on Ag2S catalysts were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal process and employed for the decomposition of anionic dye naphthol green B (NGB) under solar light. The reduced graphene oxide-based silver sulfide (rGO/Ag2S) nanoparticles were then examined using XRD, SEM, EDS, HR-TEM, XPS, UV-DRS, and PL analysis. Using solar light, the photocatalytic activity of the produced catalyst was examined for the degradation of naphthol green B (NGB) in an aqueous solution. At pH 9, rGO/Ag2S is discovered to be more effective than the other catalysts for the NGB dye mineralization. Analyses have been conducted on the influence of operational parameters on the photo-mineralization of NGB, including the initial pH, initial dye concentration, and catalyst dosage. The dye concentration increased; the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation tended to decrease. Chemical oxygen demand (COD)studies have verified the NGB dye mineralization. Active species trapping revealed that holes, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide radicals all played major roles in the photocatalytic deterioration of NGB processes. Additionally, a potential mechanism of NGB dye degradation by rGO/Ag2S catalyst is presented. The synthesized compound was further evaluated for antibacterial activity, and the results indicated that rGO/Ag2S were potentially effective antibacterial agents.

Graphene-based nanocomposites for gas sensors: challenges and opportunities

Abstract Exposure to toxic gases resulting from rapid industrialization poses significant health risks living organisms including human. Consequently, researchers in this modern scientific era have shown keen interest in the selective detection of these toxic gases. The development of fast, economical, selective, and highly sensitive gas sensors has become a crucial pursuit to accurately detect toxic gases and mitigate their adverse effects on the natural environment. Graphene-based nanocomposites have emerged as promising candidates for selectively detecting toxic gases due to their extensive surface area. This review paper provides a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in graphene-based gas sensors. The paper also offers an overview of various synthetic strategies for graphene and its hybrid architectures. Additionally, it delves into the detailed sensing applications of these materials. Challenges and limitations in this field have been critically evaluated and highlighted, along with potential future solutions.

Comprehensive-designed graphene-based quaternary nanocomposite and its synergistic effect towards photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction under different electrolytes

Research on the electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2ER) and photoelectrochemical reduction of CO2 (PEC-CO2R) to produce hydrocarbon fuels using renewable energy sources is gaining significant attention. In this study, we developed a new quaternary-structured catalytic material that has garnered interest in the catalysis industry. The performance of the catalysts was assessed by conducting CO2 reduction tests using different electrolytes to support the interaction between the cathode surface and the final product. The selectivity and activity of the nanocomposites were evaluated based on the Faradaic efficiency (FE). Among all the tested nanocomposites, the CuO-Graphene-ZnFe2O4-TiO2 nanocomposites (CGZFOT NCs) exhibited the highest FE in each test, particularly 44.08 % in the buffer electrolyte with UV light, which facilitated electron transfer for CO2 reduction to methanol. The second highest FE value of 42.2 % was achieved when NaHCO3 was used as the electrolyte under UV light. Notably, both the experimental conditions demonstrated high FE values in the absence of a light source. Furthermore, the presence of protons affects FE (%) values. NaHCO3, for instance, dissociates into Na+ and HCO3–, and acts as a carrier for hydrocarbon ions, enhancing absorption. The buffering capacity of the buffer electrolyte actively reacts with the produced hydroxide, promoting the mass transfer of CO2 gas. This results in a high current density for redox reactions in sodium hydrocarbonate and a buffer electrolyte for all working electrodes (WEs). The choice of electrolyte significantly affects the performance of the catalyst; thus, we compared catalysts using only one electrolyte to determine whether their activity and selectivity are related to the catalyst structure and properties. The Z-scheme charge carrier mechanism of the quaternary CGZFOT NCs offered efficient separation and carrier of electron-hole pairs, and it was also found that the close-parallel interfacial connection led to improved photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction (PEC-CO2R). In addition, we believe that our experiments provide a complete picture of the performance of catalysts in different environments.

Hydrophobic Polymer/Graphene and Derivatives Based Nanocomposites: A Systematic Rieview

Graphene presents exceptional properties. When this nanomaterial is present in nanocomposites, even at low concentrations, their properties are drastically changed and can be tuned according to the desired final nanocomposite characteristics. Graphene-based materials, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced GO, can be functionalized with different chemical species, enhancing their versatility. Furthermore, these materials can provide hydrophobic properties for nanocomposites, being useful for applications in anticorrosive coatings, membranes, and packaging. This review analyzed different methodologies/functionalizations reported in the literature to obtain graphene-based nanocomposites with hydrophobic properties.

Synthesis and characterization of ternary nanocomposite based on Ag-Fe3O4/rGO for electrochemical application

In-situ synthesis of a ternary nanocomposite based on Ag-Fe3O4/rGO by utilizing Azadirachta indica leaf extract as a reducing agent has been carried out. The morphological, EDX, and structural analyses confirm the reduction of GO into rGO by forming crystalline Fe3O4 and Ag nanoparticles in the rGO matrix, with a crystalline size of 25.77 nm. Further, the FTIR, UV-Vis, and BET analyses confirmed the effective interaction between Fe3O4 and Ag nanoparticles in the rGO matrix, tunable bandgap, and a higher specific surface area. Various electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been performed in a 2 M KOH electrolyte to investigate its electrochemical performance. The synthesized ternary nanocomposite exhibits a specific capacitance of 493 Fg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1, with notable capacitive retention of 91.5% even after 10,000 cycles. This nontoxic technique provides a substitute pathway for the formation of graphene-based ternary nanocomposites with exceptional structural, morphological, optical, surface, and electrochemical properties. The ternary nanocomposite synthesized through this procedure displays an outstanding specific capacitance, cyclic stability, and corrosion resistance and hence the possibility of using nanocomposite as a promising electrode material can be explored for energy storage devices.

Influence of Graphene-Based Nanocomposites in Neurogenesis and Neuritogenesis: A Brief Summary.

Graphene is a prospective candidate for various biomedical applications, including drug transporters, bioimaging agents, and scaffolds for tissue engineering, thanks to its superior electrical conductivity and biocompatibility. The clinical issue of nerve regeneration and rehabilitation still has a major influence on people's lives. Nanomaterials based on graphene have been exploited extensively to promote nerve cell differentiation and proliferation. Their high electrical conductivity and mechanical robustness make them appropriate for nerve tissue engineering. Combining graphene with other substances, such as biopolymers, may transmit biochemical signals that support brain cell division, proliferation, and regeneration. The utilization of nanocomposites based on graphene in neurogenesis and neuritogenesis is the primary emphasis of this review. Here are some examples of the many synthetic strategies used. For neuritogenesis and neurogenesis, it has also been explored to combine electrical stimulation with graphene-based materials.

Recent advances in the functionalization, substitutional doping and applications of graphene/graphene composite nanomaterials.

Recently, graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials have emerged as advanced carbon functional materials with specialized unique electronic, optical, mechanical, and chemical properties. These properties have made graphene an exceptional material for a wide range of promising applications in biological and non-biological fields. The present review illustrates the structural modifications of pristine graphene resulting in a wide variety of derivatives. The significance of substitutional doping with alkali-metals, alkaline earth metals, and III-VII group elements apart from the transition metals of the periodic table is discussed. The paper reviews various chemical and physical preparation routes of graphene, its derivatives and graphene-based nanocomposites at room and elevated temperatures in various solvents. The difficulty in dispersing it in water and organic solvents make it essential to functionalize graphene and its derivatives. Recent trends and advances are discussed at length. Controlled reduction reactions in the presence of various dopants leading to nanocomposites along with suitable surfactants essential to enhance its potential applications in the semiconductor industry and biological fields are discussed in detail.

Bioinspired graphene-based metal oxide nanocomposites for photocatalytic and electrochemical performances: an updated review

Considering the rapidly increasing population, the development of new resources, skills, and devices that can provide safe potable water and clean energy remains one of the vital research topics for the scientific community.

High-efficiency freeze-dried ultrathin V2O5 nanosheet arrays on reduced graphene oxide as aqueous Zn-ion battery cathode

The aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are a potential grid-scale energy storage device because of the high security, economy and high performance. There is a need for developing ZIBs cathode materials with high specific energies. Herein, novel ultrathin V2O5 nanosheet arrays deposited on reduced graphene oxide (V2O5/rGO) are prepared via freeze-drying technique in combination with a scalable in-situ thermal decomposition-reduction method for ZIBs cathode. The introduction of rGO not only enhances electrical conductivity and provides exceptional structural stability for V2O5/rGO, but also increase the electrode hydrophobicity, effectively inhibiting the dissolution of vanadium. As a result, the assembled ZIBs demonstrate a high capacity of 438.5 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, a capacity of 278.2 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at 2 A/g, with an 85.6 % capacity retention. This work provides a simple and scalable strategy to prepare graphene-based nanocomposites.

Highly tunable rGO composites for EMI shielding inks: A tailored approach to modulate broadband EMI shielding

In this study, we demonstrate the ability to design tunable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding by controlling the dominant shielding mechanism, whether it is absorption or reflection, using graphene-based nanocomposites. We synthesized four different composites and their corresponding acrylic- based inks to investigate the impact of additives on the EMI shielding mechanism. We conducted measurements on both liquid and printable structures, and the results were highly promising. The coatings exhibited a maximum shielding efficiency of over 200 dB/mm. To achieve targeted shielding for specific frequency bands (here 10 GHz), we tested metastructures printed with the synthesized inks for their shielding effectiveness. Remarkably, these structures, when screen printed on flexible and transparent polyvinyl chloride substrate, achieved over 90% microwave attenuation. Overall, this research highlights the potential of printable EMI shielding solutions, enabled by graphene-based nanocomposites, to effectively address microwave interference issues in a wide range of electronic devices and defence applications.

Kinetic studies of NiO-rGO hybrid nanocomposite for the treatment of organic toxic effluents and oxidative stress

ABSTRACT The extensive use of aromatic compounds in industries is increasing the contamination of the water. Treatment of wastewater by environment friendly and financially effective methods has become a research hotspot. In the current study, graphene-based nanocomposite was found as effective nano-adsorbent due to π–π interaction and large surface area of graphene to interact with organic pollutants. Nickel oxide–reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (NiO-rGO ncp) was synthesised by using the extract of Cordia myxa leaves as a reducing agent. The characterisation of nanocomposite was carried by using UV-Vis spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which revealed the size (6.16 nm) and morphology (spherical) of the synthesised nanocomposite. The antioxidant potential of nanocomposite was also evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging potential, total antioxidant potential and total phenolic content (TPC) which was found to be good. The ability of nanocomposite to catalyse the removal of methylene blue dye, rhodamine B dye and phenol was also assessed. NiO-rGO ncp showed 99% removal for methylene blue, 90% removal for rhodamine B using a tungsten bulb and 88% phenol elimination. Thermodynamic investigations validated the adsorption process’s spontaneity. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic models were also applied. A novel nanocomposite was demonstrated to be an effective antioxidant and a potential adsorbent for the extraction of organic pollutants from aqueous contaminated waste.

Anti-corrosion and flame-retardant properties of environmentally benign smart functionalized WS2/rGO in epoxy coatings for enhanced steel structural protection in natural seawater

The epoxy matrix (EP) was filled with the rGO-APOD/WS2 nanofiller that was generated through mixing the surface-modified WS2 with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and 2-amino-5-(4-aminophenyl)− 1, 3-oxadiazole (APOD). The effectiveness of epoxy coating on mild steel as a barrier against various concentrations of rGO-APOD/WS2 in naturally occurring seawater was assessed using EIS, SECM, and salt spray tests. In order to achieve the best coating performance, it was found that the optimal weight ratio of rGO-APOD/WS2 in the EP matrix was 0.3. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) test showed that the rGO-APOD/WS2 considerably enhanced the flame retardancy properties of the epoxy coating. In comparison to pure epoxy coating, the EP-rGO/APOD-WS2 demonstrated better flame retardancy with considerable reductions in the values of PHRR and THR, i.e., 81% and 70%, respectively. It was discovered that the coating resistance of EP-rGO/APOD-WS2 was much higher (Rcoat: 9.89E10 kΩ.cm2) than that of pure matrix (1.49E5 kΩ.cm2) after being exposed to natural seawater for one hour. The EIS experiments showed that the EP-rGO/APOD-WS2 nanocomposite had increased coating resilience even after 200 h of submersion in seawater. Because the coated substrate is more resistant to anodic dissipation than the uncoated substrate, SECM investigations showed that the least quantity of Fe2+ ions discharged at the scratch of the EP-rGO/APOD-WS2 coating. WS2 was found in rusted parts, producing an excellent inert layer at the surface, according to FE-SEM/EDX investigation. The newly created EP-rGO/APOD-WS2 composite has higher barrier and hydrophobic characteristics, according to the results (WCA:162°). The epoxy matrix's mechanical properties were enhanced by the addition of rGO/APOD-WS2. It was discussed how graphene-based polymer nanocomposites might prevent corrosion. As a result, an industrial coating made of the EP-rGO/APOD-WS2 nanocomposite may be used.