Porous Graphene Film Research Articles

Gold Nanoparticle-Embedded Porous Graphene Thin Films Fabricated via Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly and Subsequent Thermal Annealing for Electrochemical Sensing

A uniform three-dimensional (3D) gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-embedded porous graphene (AuEPG) thin film has been fabricated by electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of AuNPs and graphene nanosheets functionalized with bovine serum albumin and subsequent thermal annealing in air at 340 °C for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations for the AuEPG film indicate that an AuNP was embedded in every pore of the porous graphene film, something that was difficult to achieve with previously reported methods. The mechanism of formation of the AuEPG film was initially explored. Application of the AuEPG film in electrochemical sensing was further demonstrated by use of H(2)O(2) as a model analyte. The AuEPG film-modified electrode showed improved electrochemical performance in H(2)O(2) detection compared with nonporous graphene-AuNP composite film-modified electrodes, which is mainly attributed to the porous structure of the AuEPG film. This work opens up a new and facile way for direct preparation of metal or metal oxide nanoparticle-embedded porous graphene composite films, which will enable exciting opportunities in highly sensitive electrochemical sensors and other advanced applications based on graphene-metal composites.

Graphene-[formula omitted] counter electrode to significantly reduce Pt loading and enhance charge transfer for high performance dye-sensitized solar cell

A graphene-Pt⧹ITO (ITO-PG) counter electrode is fabricated by electrochemical deposition of a porous graphene film on a low-loaded Pt⧹ITO electrode. Compared to both plain graphene and Pt films, the graphene-coated Pt composite film provides large and superior conductive interface for significant improvement of Pt utilization efficiency and charge transfer, which in turn leads to higher power conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). As compared to conventional Pt-coated counter electrode, the Pt loading of ITO-PG electrode can be reduced by more than 60% to 1.9μgcm−2 while achieving even better performance. The performance enhancement mechanism is proposed. This work renders an economical manufacturing process to fabricate high performance DSSC for potential commercial production.

Solubilization of Reduced Graphene in Water through Noncovalent Interaction with Dendrimers

Abstract Solubilization of reduced graphene is simply attempted through in situ reduction of graphene oxide (GO) solution in the presence of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers G4 or G5 with terminal amine groups through noncovalent interaction. Interestingly, porous graphene film was formed by filtration of these dendrimer-stabilized reduced graphene solutions.