RESUMEN
Here, we report a concept that allows the integration of the characteristic properties of [60]fullerene in 3D graphene networks. In these systems, graphene provides high electrical conductivity and surface area while fullerenes add high electron affinity. We use molecular design to optimize the interaction between 3D graphene networks and fullerenes, specifically in the context of stability and charge transfer in an electrochemical environment. We demonstrated that the capacity of the 3D graphene network is significantly improved upon the addition of C60 and C60 monoadducts by providing additional acceptor states in the form of low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of C60 and its derivative. Guided by experimental results and first-principles calculations, we synthesized and tested a C60 monoadduct with increased stability by strengthening the 3D graphene-C60 van-der-Waals interactions. The synthesis method and stabilization strategy presented here is expected to benefit the integration of graphene-C60 hybrid materials in solar cell and charge storage applications.
RESUMEN
Low-density metal foams have many potential applications in electronics, energy storage, catalytic supports, fuel cells, sensors, and medical devices. Here, we report a new method for fabricating ultralight, conductive silver aerogel monoliths with predictable densities using silver nanowires. Silver nanowire building blocks were prepared by polyol synthesis and purified by selective precipitation. Silver aerogels were produced by freeze-casting nanowire aqueous suspensions followed by thermal sintering to weld the nanowire junctions. As-prepared silver aerogels have unique anisotropic microporous structures, with density precisely controlled by the nanowire concentration, down to 4.8 mg/cm3 and an electrical conductivity up to 51â¯000 S/m. Mechanical studies show that silver nanowire aerogels exhibit "elastic stiffening" behavior with a Young's modulus up to 16â¯800 Pa.
RESUMEN
Gold nanotriangles (Au NTs) with tunable edge length were synthesized via a green chemical route in the presence of the designed consensus sequence tetratricopeptide repeat (CTPR) protein, halide anions (Br(-)) and CTPR-stabilized Ag seeds. The well-defined morphologies, tailored plasmonic absorbance from visible-light to the near infrared (NIR) region, colloidal stability and biocompatibility are attributed to the synergistic action of CTPR, halide ions, and CTPR-stabilized Ag seeds.