Charged Carbon Nanomaterials: Redox Chemistries of Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes, and Graphenes

Abstract

Since the discovery of buckminsterfullerene over 30 years ago, sp 2 -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. CONTENTS

Thermal Decomposition of Ternary Sodium Graphite Intercalation Compounds

“…Reductive dissolution of nanocarbons is a versatile and widely used methodology to achieve individualisation, exfoliation and functionalisation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), fullerenes, and other graphitic nanomaterials; it has been extended, more recently, to graphene analogues, such as carbon nitride and transition‐metal dichalcogenides . For the exfoliation of graphite in particular, graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) are a convenient precursor to obtaining “graphenide” solutions in various solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N ‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP) .…”

Fast Exfoliation and Functionalisation of Two‐Dimensional Crystalline Carbon Nitride by Framework Charging

“…Further studies will be required to identify the specific mechanism. One possibility may be a single electron transfer followed by free‐radical addition, as hypothesised for other nanocarbons (Scheme S2) …”

Applications of nano-materials in diverse dentistry regimes

“…Fullerene (C 60 ) is a spherical carbon molecule made up of carbon atoms, which are bonded to each other via sp 2 hybridization with nearly 28 to 1500 carbon atoms, comprising spherical structures with a diameter of 8.2 nm for each layer and 4 to 36 nm for the multilayers. 48 2.3.2. Graphene.…”

“…The end of nanotubes may be unlled or closed via a half fullerene molecule. [51][52][53] 2.3.4. Carbon nanober.…”