Efficient Coupling of Nanoparticles to Electrochemically Exfoliated Graphene

Abstract

Electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG) is a new generation of high-quality graphene that holds great promise for the construction of hybrid materials. However, the assembly of EEG hybrids with well-defined nanostructures has remained a major challenge. In this study, we demonstrate a bottom-up approach toward the assembly of EEG sheets with a series of functional nanoparticles (Si, Fe3O4, and Pt NPs) into two-dimensional sandwich-like hybrid nanostructures. Polyaniline in the emeraldine base form functions as a versatile dopant to couple NPs onto EEG through either electrostatic interactions or hydrogen bonding. This protocol enables processing and assembly of EEG using an economical pathway, for which we further demonstrate the potential application of EEG-Si hybrids as high-performance anode material for lithium storage.

Emerging 2D Materials Produced via Electrochemistry

“…Likewise, EG‐polyaniline hybrid sheets were excellent platforms to decorate well‐dispersed inorganic nanoparticles. Especially, their combination with silicon nanoparticles delivered an outstanding reversible capacity of 1310 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 1.0 A g −1 . In another report, a novel hierarchical EG‐MoS 2 composite was prepared by patterning vertically aligned MoS 2 on EG sheets.…”

Application of Polyaniline for Li‐Ion Batteries, Lithium–Sulfur Batteries, and Supercapacitors

“…Hence, this 3D electrode had enhanced electrochemical properties with high specific capacity (1019 mAh g −1 ) at 1.0 A g −1 over 50 cycles. Wei et al . fabricated 2D‐exfoliated GR (EEG) hybrids.…”

“…The strong interactions, including the p-p interactions between GR and PANI as well as electrostatic interactions between Si and PANI, all facilitated the electron transfer and maintained structural integrity.H ence, this 3D electrode had enhanced electrochemical properties with high specific capacity (1019 mAh g À1 )a t 1.0 Ag À1 over 50 cycles. Wei et al [26] fabricated2 D-exfoliated GR (EEG) hybrids. EEG NSs and various colloidal NPs (CNPs such as Si, Fe 3 O 4 ,a nd Pt) were sandwiched through ab ottomup strategy by using EB to link EEG and CNPs as shown in Scheme 2.…”

New‐Generation Graphene from Electrochemical Approaches: Production and Applications

“…[ 53 ] Recently, we investigated nanohybrids based on graphene/polyaniline sandwichstructures with different inorganic nanoparticles and were able to demonstrate stable reversible capacities of more than 1300 mAh g −1 in combination with Si-NPs (Figure 3 c). [ 54 ] For use as a cathode material sulfur has been deposited onto graphene in situ during electrochemical exfoliation to generate a material with a capacity of 900 mAh g −1 after 60 cycles. [ 55 ] EEG has also proven to be useful as an additive to LiFePO 4 -based cathodes, boosting its capacity to about 22% above the theoretical value.…”

“…c) Reproduced with permission. [ 54 ] Copyright 2015, the American Chemical Society. d) Reproduced with permission.…”