Dimitrios Gournis : Graphene pillaring: Towards novel multifunctional materials

Abstract

By taking advantage of the concept of intercalation chemistry and the so-called pillaring method the design and development of novel nanostructured pillared layered materials based on graphene is reported. Various cage-shaped and robust species (see Scheme) such as cubic silsesquioxanes, fullerenes (C₆₀), adamantane derivatives, carbon nanodots, carboranes and alumina (Keggin ion), as well as, organic precursors (amine derivatives) were successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of chemically oxidized graphene (graphene oxide) and graphite nitrate leading to new pillared graphene structures. Pillared graphenes were characterized by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoemission, Raman and FTIR spectroscopies, thermal analysis (DTA/TGA), surface area measurements and microscopy techniques (TEM, SEM, AFM). Representative case studies addressing cutting edge processes of great importance such as the use of these hybrid nanostructures as cytotoxic agents, effective adsorbents for environmental remediation and hydrogen storage materials will be discussed .