Nanocarbon 2011

This book presents highlighted results coming up from NanoCarbon2011, a Brazilian Carbon event. The topics cover the latest advances in Brazilian basic and applied research related to different carbon materials. The chapters address reviews on their fundamental and outstanding properties and describe various classes of new promising high-tech applications for carbon materials.

Nanocarbon-Inorganic Hybrids is dedicated exclusively to the new family of functional materials, covering a multidisciplinary research field that combines materials science, chemistry and physics with nanotechnology and applied energy science. It provides a concise introduction into fundamental principles of nanocarbons, defines hybrids and composites, explains the physics behind sustainability, and illustrates requirements for successful implementation in energy applications. It further reviews the current research on developing concepts for designing nanocarbon hybrids, unravels mechanistic details of interfacial electron transfer processes and highlights future challenges and perspectives associated with exploiting these exciting new materials in commercial energy applications and beyond. This comprehensively written book is indispensable for Master and PhD students seeking to become familiar with a modern fi eld of knowledge-driven material science as well as for senior researchers and industrial staff scientists who explore the frontiers of knowledge.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of ZnO-nano carbon core shell hybrid issues. There is significant interest in metal oxide/nanocarbon hybrid functional materials in the field of energy conversion and storage as electrode materials for supercapacitors, Li ion secondary battery, electrocatalysts for water splitting, and optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes and solar photovoltaic cells. Despite efforts to manipulate more uniform metal oxide-nanocarbon nanocomposite structures, they have shown poor performance because they are randomly scattered and non-uniformly attached to the nanocarbon surface. For higher and more effective performance of the hybrid structure, 3D conformal coating on metal oxides are highly desirable. In the first part of the book, the physical and chemical properties of ZnO and nanocarbons and the state-of-the-art in related research are briefly summarized. In the next part, the 3D conformal coating synthetic processes of ZnO templated nanocarbon hybrid materials such as ZnO-graphene,-C60, single-walled (SWCNT) are introduced with the aid of schematic illustrations. Analysis of their chemical bonding and structure are also presented. In the final section, several applications are presented: UV photovoltaic cells and photoelectrochemical anodes for water splitting using ZnO-C60 and ZnO-graphene, white-light-emitting diodes based on ZnO-graphene quantum dots(GQDs), inverted solar cells using ligand-modified ZnO-graphene QDs, and P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer with mixed with nano-ring SWCNT. The book describes how strong anchoring bonds between a ZnO core and carbon nanomaterial shell will ultimately prevail over the main drawbacks of ZnO with high charge recombination and poor electrochemical stability in liquid solutions. Due to the moderate energy states and excellent electric properties of the nanocarbons, ultrafast charge carrier transport from the ZnO core to the nanocarbon shell is guaranteed with the use of the photoluminescence (PL) lifetime measurement. Given the growing interest and significance of future research in optoelectronic and electrochemical devices applications, the contents are very timely. This book is targeted towards researchers looking for highly efficient metal oxide-nanocarbon hybrid functional materials in the fields of nano-optoelectronics, photoelectrochemistry, energy storage and conversion.

During the last decade, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes have attracted special interest as new nanocarbons with novel properties. Because of their hollow caged structure, they can be used as containers for atoms and molecules, and nanotubes can be used as miniature test-tubes. Chemistry of Nanocarbons presents the most up-to-date research on chemical aspects of nanometer-sized forms of carbon, with emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and nanohorns. All modern chemical aspects are mentioned, including noncovalent interactions, supramolecular assembly, dendrimers, nanocomposites, chirality, nanodevices, host-guest interactions, endohedral fullerenes, magnetic resonance imaging, nanodiamond particles and graphene. The book covers experimental and theoretical aspects of nanocarbons, as well as their uses and potential applications, ranging from molecular electronics to biology and medicine.

Provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of nanocarbon electrochemistry The discoveries of new carbon materials such as fullerene, graphene, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbon, carbon dots, and graphdiyne have triggered numerous research advances in the field of electrochemistry. This book brings together up-to-date accounts of the recent progress, developments, and achievements in the electrochemistry of different carbon materials, focusing on their unique properties and various applications. Nanocarbon Electrochemistry begins by looking at the studies of heterogeneous electron transfer at various carbon electrodes when redox-active molecules are reversibly and specifically adsorbed on the carbon electrode surface. It then covers electrochemical energy storage applications of various carbon materials, particularly the construction and performance of supercapacitors and batteries by use of graphene and related materials. Next, it concentrates on electrochemical energy conversion applications where electrocatalysis at 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D carbon materials nanocarbon materials is highlighted. The book finishes with an examination of the contents of electrogenerated chemiluminescence and photoelectrochemical pollutant degradation by use of diamond and related carbon materials. Covers the fundamental properties of different carbon materials and their applications across a wide range of areas Provides sufficient background regarding different applications, which contributes to the understanding of specialists and non-specialists Examines nanoelectrochemistry of adsorption-coupled electron transfer at carbon electrodes; graphene and graphene related materials; diamond electrodes for the electrogenerated chemiluminescence; and more Features contributions from an international team of distinguished researchers Nanocarbon Electrochemistry is an ideal book for students, researchers, and industrial partners working on many diverse fields of electrochemistry, whether they already make frequent use of carbon electrodes in one form of another or are looking at electrodes for new applications.

Nanocarbon and Its Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications provides a detailed and comprehensive review of all major innovations in the field of nanocarbons and their composites, including preparation, properties and applications. Coverage is broad and quite extensive, encouraging future research in carbon-based materials, which are in high demand due to the need to develop more sustainable, recyclable and eco-friendly methods for materials. Chapters are written by eminent scholars and leading experts from around the globe who discuss the properties and applications of carbon-based materials, such as nanotubes (buckytubes), fullerenes, cones, horns, rods, foams, nanodiamonds and carbon black, and much more. Chapters provide cutting-edge, up-to-date research findings on the use of carbon-based materials in different application fields and illustrate how to achieve significant enhancements in physical, chemical, mechanical and thermal properties. Demonstrates systematic approaches and investigations from design, synthesis, characterization and applications of nanocarbon based composites Aims to compile information on the various aspects of synthesis, properties and applications of nano-carbon based materials Presents a useful reference and technical guide for university academics and postgraduate students (Masters and Ph.D.)

This book presents a comprehensive review of research on applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene to electronic devices. As nanocarbons in general, and CNTs and graphene in particular, are becoming increasingly recognized as the most promising materials for future generations of electronic devices, including transistors, sensors, and interconnects, a knowledge gap still exists between the basic science of nanocarbons and their feasibility for cost-effective product manufacturing. The book highlights some of the issues surrounding this missing link by providing a detailed review of the nanostructure and electronic properties, materials, and device fabrication and of the structure–property–application relationships.

A comprehensive look at the most widely employed carbon-based electrode materials and the numerous electroanalytical applications associated with them. A valuable reference for the emerging age of carbon-based electronics and electrochemistry, this book discusses diverse applications for nanocarbon materials in electrochemical sensing. It highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the different nanocarbon materials currently used for electroanalysis, covering the electrochemical sensing of small-sized molecules, such as metal ions and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), as well as large biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, enzymes and proteins. A comprehensive look at state-of-the-art applications for nanocarbon materials in electrochemical sensors Emphasizes the relationship between the carbon structures and surface chemistry, and electrochemical performance Covers a wide array of carbon nanomaterials, including nanocarbon films, carbon nanofibers, graphene, diamond nanostructures, and carbon-dots Edited by internationally renowned experts in the field with contributions from researchers at the cutting edge of nanocarbon electroanalysis Nanocarbons for Electroanalysis is a valuable working resource for all chemists and materials scientists working on carbon based-nanomaterials and electrochemical sensors. It also belongs on the reference shelves of academic researchers and industrial scientists in the fields of nanochemistry and nanomaterials, materials chemistry, material science, electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry.