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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

The first experimental evidence for improved nanomechanical properties of calcium silicate hydrate by polycarboxylate ether and graphene oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) efficiently enhances macroscale mechanical properties of cement-based materials. Yet the nanoscale reinforcing mechanism of GO for calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the key binding phase of concrete, remains poorly understood. Moreover, how polycarboxylate ether (PCE)-based superplasticizers affect the nanomechanical properties of C-S-H remains unclear. The intrinsic mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are measured using high-pressure X-ray diffraction. The influences of GO and PCE on the local Ca and Si environments are probed using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. For the first time, we evidence that PCE-induced well-dispersed GO nanoplatelets strengthen the C-S-H basal planes, whereas poorly water-dispersed GO weakly interacts with basal planes and does not strengthen in plane Casingle bondO bonds. Both PCE and GO only slightly strengthen C-S-H's c-axis. Here, the bulk modulus of C-S-H/PCE/GO nanocomposite is 190% than pure C-S-H. Functional groups of PCE and GO prefer interacting with the Casingle bondO sheets of C-S-Hs instead of silicate tetrahedra.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Cation-Driven Assembly of Bilayered Vanadium Oxide and Graphene Oxide Nanoflakes to Form Two-Dimensional Heterostructure Electrodes for Li-Ion Batteries

Lithium preintercalated bilayered vanadium oxide (LVO or δ-Li x V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes were assembled using a concentrated lithium chloride solution and annealed under vacuum at 200 °C to form two-dimensional (2D) δ-Li x V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O and reduced GO (rGO) heterostructures. Here we found that the Li + ions from LiCl enhanced the oxide/carbon heterointerface formation and served as stabilizing ions to improve structural and electrochemical stability. The graphitic content of the heterostructure could be easily controlled by changing the initial GO concentration prior to assembly. We found that increasing the GO content in our heterostructure composition helped inhibit the electrochemical degradation of LVO during cycling and improved the rate capability of the heterostructure. A combination of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction was used to help confirm that a 2D heterointerface formed between LVO and GO, and the final phase composition was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy were additionally used to examine the heterostructures at high resolution, mapping the orientations of rGO and LVO layers and locally imaging their interlayer spacings. Further, electrochemical cycling of the cation-assembled LVO/rGO heterostructures in Li-ion cells with a non-aqueous electrolyte revealed that increasing the rGO content led to improved cycling stability and rate performance, despite slightly decreased charge storage capacity. The heterostructures with 0, 10, 20, and 35 wt % rGO exhibited capacities of 237, 216, 174, and 150 mAh g –1 , respectively. Moreover, the LVO/rGO-35 wt % and LVO/rGO-20 wt % heterostructures retained 75% (110 mAh g–1) and 67% (120 mAh g –1 ) of their initial capacities after increasing the specific current from 20 to 200 mA g –1 , while the LVO/rGO-10 wt % sample retained only 48% (107 mAh g –1 ) of its initial capacity under the same cycling conditions. In addition, the cation-assembled LVO/rGO electrodes exhibited enhanced electrochemical stability compared to electrodes prepared through physical mixing of LVO and GO nanoflakes in the same ratios as the heterostructure electrodes, further revealing the stabilizing effect of a 2D heterointerface. The cation-driven assembly approach, explored in this work using Li + cations, was found to induce and stabilize the formation of stacked 2D layers of rGO and exfoliated LVO. The reported assembly methodology can be applied for a variety of systems utilizing 2D materials with complementary properties for applications as electrodes in energy storage devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

In situ oxidation of reduced graphene oxide membranes by peracetic acid for dye desalination

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes with tunable interlayer spacings are of interest for dye removal from salty textile wastewater, and the membranes are often reduced to improve their stability, which inevitably lowers water permeance. Herein, we demonstrate that reduced GO (rGO) membranes can be facilely modified using peracetic acid (PAA) in situ to dramatically enhance water permeance while retaining dye rejection. Specifically, PAA-modified membranes (PrGO) are synthesized by vacuum-filtering hydrazine-reduced rGO nanosheets onto Nylon substrate and then exposing them to PAA solutions. The effects of the rGO layer thickness, PAA content, and PAA exposure time on the membrane chemistry, nanostructures, and salt/dye separation properties are thoroughly examined. For example, the PAA oxidation of a 100 nm-thick rGO membrane for 10 min increases water permeance by 180 %, from 35 to 93 Liter m −2 h −1 bar −1 , and decreases Na 2 SO 4 rejection from 10 % to 3.3 % while retaining the rejection of Congo red at ≈99.7 %. The PrGO membranes exhibit stable water permeance and >99 % dye rejection in multi-cycle tests in a crossflow system, surpassing state-of-the-art GO membranes and showcasing their potential for practical applications.

Dye desalination↗

Role of Cations in the Cation-Driven Assembly Process and their Effect on the Charge Storage Properties of Bilayered Vanadium Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide Heterostructures in Alkali Ion Systems

Exfoliated δ-Li x V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O (ex-LVO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) heterostructures were constructed using different assembling cations (i.e., Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ ions). The ex-LVO and rGO nanoflakes were stacked together using a concentrated chloride solution of each assembling cation and vacuum annealed at 200 °C to form three distinct two-dimensional (2D) layered architectures. X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed that the assembling ions can control the interlayer spacing of the bilayered vanadium oxide (BVO) phase as well as impact the crystallographic water content, which in turn affects the electrochemical performance. Scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that a 2D heterointerface formed between LVO and rGO and that the cations used to assemble the heterostructure are trapped in the interlayer BVO region. High-resolution STEM imaging also showed the rGO dispersion throughout the LVO layers. Moreover, STEM-EELS identified a V 2 O 3 phase that forms along the rGO interface and can stabilize the materials during cycling. A charge storage mechanism analysis, combined with the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, found that increased interlayer spacings of the BVO phase and using the assembling cations to define intercalation sites for identical charge-carrying ions lead to improved ion diffusion and increased capacities during cycling. Therefore, the Li⁺ and Na⁺ ion assembled heterostructures showed improved charge-carrying ion diffusion and charge storage capacities in each of their respective charge storage systems (i.e., Li-ion and Na-ion half-cells). In total, the cation used for heterostructure assembly can modify the final material structure and tailor the ion diffusion and charge storage capacity to tune its properties for the desired electrochemical system using a variety of 2D materials.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Chemical and Physical Drivers for Improvement in Permeance and Stability of Linker-Free Graphene Oxide Membranes

Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising membrane material for chemical separations, including water treatment. However, GO has often required postsynthesis chemical modifications, such as linkers or intercalants, to improve either the permeability, performance, or mechanical integrity of GO membranes. In this work, we explore two different feedstocks of GO to investigate chemical and physical differences, where we observe up to a 100× discrepancy in the permeability–mass loading trade-off while maintaining nanofiltration capacity. GO membranes also show structural stability and chemical resilience to harsh pH conditions and bleach treatment. Here we probe GO and the resulting assembled membranes through a variety of characterization approaches, including a novel scanning-transmission-electron-microscopy-based visualization approach, to connect differences in sheet stacking and oxide functional groups to significant improvements in permeability and chemical stability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ion and water adsorption to graphene and graphene oxide surfaces

Graphene and graphene oxide (GO) are two particularly promising nanomaterials for a range of applications including energy storage, catalysis, and separations. Understanding the nanoscale interactions between ions and water near graphene and GO surfaces is critical for advancing our fundamental knowledge of these systems and downstream application success. Here this minireview highlights the necessity of using surface-specific experimental probes and computational techniques to fully characterize these interfaces, including the nanomaterial, surrounding water, and any adsorbed ions, if present. Key experimental and simulation studies considering water and ion structures near both graphene and GO are discussed. The major findings are: water forms 1–3 hydration layers near graphene; ions adsorb electrostatically to graphene under an applied potential; the chemical and physical properties of GO vary considerably depending on the synthesis route; and these variations influence water and ion adsorption to GO. Lastly, we offer outlooks and perspectives for these research areas.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An Electrochemical Electrode to Detect Theophylline Based on Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Composited with Graphene Oxide

The electrochemical analysis of theophylline (THP) was investigated by fabricating a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with graphene oxide (GO) along with copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (CuO-GO/CPE). The impact of electro-kinetic parameters such as the heterogeneous rate constant, the scan rate, the accumulation time, the pH, the transfer coefficient, and the number of electrons and protons transferred into the electro-oxidation mechanism of THP has been studied utilizing electrochemical methods such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The differential pulse voltammetry technique was employed to investigate THP in pharmaceutical and biological samples, confirming the limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of the THP. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed to characterize the CuO nanoparticles. The CuO-GO/CPE was more sensitive in THP detection because its electrocatalytic characteristics displayed an enhanced peak current in the 0.2 M supporting electrolyte of pH 6.0, proving the excellent sensing functioning of the modified electrode.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Detection of high energy ionizing radiation using deeply depleted graphene–oxide–semiconductor junctions

Graphene’s linear band structure and two-dimensional density of states provide an implicit advantage for sensing charge. Here, these advantages are leveraged in a deeply depleted graphene–oxide–semiconductor (D2GOS) junction detector architecture to sense carriers created by ionizing radiation. Specifically, the room temperature response of a silicon-based D2GOS junction is analyzed during irradiation with 20 MeV Si4+ ions. Detection was demonstrated for doses ranging from 12 to 1200 ions with device functionality maintained with no substantive degradation. To understand the device response, D2GOS pixels were characterized post-irradiation via a combination of electrical characterization, Raman spectroscopy, and photocurrent mapping. This combined characterization methodology underscores the lack of discernible damage caused by irradiation to the graphene while highlighting the nature of interactions between the incident ions and the silicon absorber.

Ruiz, Isaac↗

Durable graphene oxide membranes

Embodiments described herein relate generally to durable graphene oxide membranes for fluid filtration. For example, the graphene oxide membranes can be durable under high temperatures non-neutral pH, and/or high pressures. One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a filtration apparatus comprising: a support substrate, and a graphene oxide membrane disposed on the support substrate. The graphene oxide membrane has a first lactose rejection rate of at least 50% with a first 1 wt % lactose solution at room temperature. The graphene oxide membrane has a second lactose rejection rate of at least 50% with a second 1 wt % lactose solution at room temperature after the graphene oxide membrane is contacted with a solution that is at least 80° C. for a period of time.

Frayne, Stephen↗

Durable graphene oxide membranes

Embodiments described herein relate generally to durable graphene oxide membranes for fluid filtration. For example, the graphene oxide membranes can be durable under high temperatures non-neutral pH, and/or high pressures. One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a filtration apparatus comprising: a support substrate, and a graphene oxide membrane disposed on the support substrate. The graphene oxide membrane has a first lactose rejection rate of at least 50% with a first 1 wt % lactose solution at room temperature. The graphene oxide membrane has a second lactose rejection rate of at least 50% with a second 1 wt % lactose solution at room temperature after the graphene oxide membrane is contacted with a solution that is at least 80° C. for a period of time.

Frayne, Stephen↗

Effects of ion adsorption on graphene oxide films and interfacial water structure: A molecular-scale description

Herein we discuss graphene oxide as a promising, emerging separation material, as it is durable, dispersible in water, and has naturally forming functional groups. Bulk studies using graphene oxide flakes have demonstrated impressive metal adsorption. However, little interfacial information about water and metal organization near graphene oxide is available. A mechanistic understanding of water and ions interactions with graphene oxide films is critical toward advanced separations, including improved sorption efficiency and membrane regeneration. We study metal ion and local water organization near graphene oxide thin films formed at the air/water interface. These films are not typical membranes and allow us to determine nanoscale information about the graphene oxide-water interface. We accomplish this with x-ray reflectivity (XR), x-ray fluorescence near total reflection (XFNTR), and vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG). These interface-specific techniques provide the electron density profile normal to the interface, number of adsorbed ions, and information about the orientational ordering and hydrogen-bonding network of interfacial water, respectively. Via XFNTR and SFG, we find that trivalent yttrium ions preferentially adsorb to graphene oxide and affect its structure, compared to divalent strontium and monovalent cesium ions. Two different interfacial water populations can be described, based on their hydrogen bonding strength, and the adsorbed ions affect these populations differently. These results provide fundamental information about ion and water organization at the interface and help address the large computational-experimental agreement gap for graphene oxide systems. Additionally, they are relevant for improved soft-scaffold graphene oxide membranes and downstream applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Monovalent ion–graphene oxide interactions are controlled by carboxylic acid groups: Sum frequency generation spectroscopy studies

Graphene oxide (GO) is a two-dimensional, mechanically strong, and chemically tunable material for separations. Elucidating GO–ion–water interactions at the molecular scale is highly important for predictive understanding of separation systems. However, direct observations of the nanometer region by GO surfaces under operando conditions are not trivial. Therefore, thin films of GO at the air/water interface can be used as model systems. With this approach, we study the effects of alkali metal ions on water organization near graphene oxide films at the air/water interface using vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. Here, we also use an arachidic acid Langmuir monolayer as a benchmark for a pure carboxylic acid surface. Theoretical modeling of the concentration-dependent sum frequency signal from graphene oxide and arachidic acid surfaces reveals that the adsorption of monovalent ions is mainly controlled by the carboxylic acid groups on graphene oxide. An in-depth analysis of sum frequency spectra reveals at least three distinct water populations with different hydrogen bonding strengths. The origin of each population can be identified from concentration dependent variations of their SFG signal. Interestingly, an interfacial water structure seemed mostly insensitive to the character of the alkali cation, in contrast to similar studies conducted at the silica/water interface. However, we observed an ion-specific effect with lithium, whose strong hydration prevented direct interactions with the graphene oxide film.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗