Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ximeng Zhang, Yue Zhou, Fangbo Zhao, Chengbao Geng, Zhiguo Li, Jiaming Zhang, Ye Yang, Hongxu Chen
Summary: There are positively charged Ca2+ and Mg2+, negatively charged colloids and bacteria in seawater. Modified ultrafiltration membranes with different surface potentials were prepared using three graphene oxide-based materials, and their anti-fouling and antibacterial properties under simulated seawater conditions were investigated. The results showed that the modified membranes exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity, anti-fouling performance, antibacterial property and permeability compared with the unmodified polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. The quaternized graphene oxide modified ultrafiltration membrane (QGO-M) with the highest surface potential showed the best anti-fouling and antibacterial properties.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yinsheng Yu, Xinyu Xie, Songzhen Tang
Summary: This study establishes the microstructures of pressure-driven seawater desalination based on a porous graphene membrane and investigates its desalination performance through molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that the desalination efficiency can be improved by increasing the external pressure, graphene pore diameter, and temperature.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Clara Skuse, Raphael Ricardo Zepon Tarpani, Patricia Gorgojo, Alejandro Gallego-Schmid, Adisa Azapagic
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO)-enhanced membranes can effectively reduce the environmental impacts of seawater desalination via reverse osmosis (RO) and membrane distillation (MD) technologies. The study shows that using GO-enhanced membranes in RO systems can decrease the impacts by 3-7% and avoid the release of 380-850 kt CO2 eq. per year globally. The MD-GO scenarios have 27-34% lower impacts compared to MD scenarios. However, using solar-thermal energy instead of natural gas in MD desalination would lead to even lower impacts in nine categories than RO powered predominantly by fossil fuels.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Fu Gao, Yao Wang, Dong Zhou, Wei Lv, Fei-Yu Kang
Summary: This paper reviews the research progress and applications of graphene and its derivatives in seawater desalination, including single-layer graphene, nanoporous graphene, and graphene oxide. The permeability and selectivity of porous graphene membranes and lamellar graphene oxide membranes are discussed based on their intrinsic properties. Different preparation processes and their effects on the permselectivity are compared, and methods for regulating the permselectivity are analyzed. The use of graphene-based membranes in seawater desalination and future prospects are summarized.
NEW CARBON MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yihua Li, Jiao Jiao, Qidong Wu, Qi Song, Wancen Xie, Baicang Liu
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO) composite membranes have been widely used in membrane modification due to their excellent properties, such as huge specific surface area, good electrical conductivity, good hydrophilicity, and various functional groups. The addition of GO in membranes has been proven to improve water permeability, molecular selectivity, membrane fouling mitigation, and contaminants decomposition. Recently, the development of laminated GO in membranes has achieved both high selectivity and high water permeability, overcoming the limitations of conventional polymeric or inorganic membranes. This review systematically summarizes the applications of GO composite membranes in three highlighted areas of environmental fields: desalination, gas separation, and wastewater treatment, and discusses the challenges faced with GO composite membranes.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuying Wu, Cen-Feng Fu, Qiang Huang, Pengpeng Zhang, Peng Cui, Jin Ran, Jinlong Yang, Tongwen Xu
Summary: Adding g-C3N4 sheets into GO membranes to establish stable and sub-nanometer wide channels can significantly improve salt rejection and water permeance. Experimental and theoretical studies have shown that size exclusion is the main mechanism for high rejections, while the ultra-low friction water flow along g-C3N4 sheets enhances permeation. Additionally, the GO/g-C3N4 membrane exhibits promising long-term, antioxidation, and antipressure stability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shania Sharif, Khuram Shahzad Ahmad, Faisal Rehman, Zubeda Bhatti, Khalid Hussain Thebo
Summary: Membrane-based technology has gained significant interest for its potential applications in water purification and desalination, with two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) and its derivatives being considered the most suitable material for membrane technology due to their exceptional properties. Challenges and future directions for such membranes will be discussed in detail.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Markus A. O. Porangaba, Rafael A. A. Silva, Dassaele F. Gomes, Ana C. V. de Araujo, Marcos G. Ghislandi
Summary: This study modified commercial microporous polyamide membranes by coating them with graphene oxide and enhancing their mechanical stability through crosslinking modification. The membranes coated with 0.75 mg graphene oxide exhibited the best salt rejection performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faheeda Soomro, Fida Hussain Memon, Muhammad Ali Khan, Muzaffar Iqbal, Aliya Ibrar, Ayaz Ali Memon, Jong Hwan Lim, Kyung Hyon Choi, Khalid Hussain Thebo
Summary: An easy and efficient method was used to fabricate MoO2@GO and WO3@GO nanocomposite membranes with controlled structure and interlayer spacing. These membranes showed good separation for salt and heavy metal ions due to intensive stacking interaction and electrostatic attraction. They exhibited high rejection rates (>70%) for small metal ions such as sodium (Na+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions, as well as >99% rejection rates for nickel (Ni2+) and lead (Pb2+) ions, with good water permeability of 275 +/- 10 L m(-2) h(-1) bar(-1). We believe that these fabricated membranes have a bright future in next generation desalination and water purification membranes.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
K. E. Gurianov, A. A. Eliseev, V. A. Brotsman, A. A. Poyarkov, I. A. Ryzhov, T. A. Zotov, A. P. Chumakov, D. I. Petukhov
Summary: This paper reports the pervaporation desalination performance of graphene oxide (GO) membranes for salts solutions. The interlayer distance of GO expands upon ions absorption, leading to a decrease in water permeance. Carbon-based spacers can be used to improve membrane performance by increasing permeate flux.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qianqian Lan, Chao Feng, Zicheng Wang, Le Li, Yong Wang, Tianxi Liu
Summary: A hybrid laminated structure of GO and phenolic nanomeshes was synthesized, forming membranes with enhanced water permeance and Na2SO4 rejection, outperforming most GO-based membranes. The chemically jointed laminates in the membranes also contributed to their exceptional stability in water.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kun Meng, Yutao Niu, Xiaoyang Zhao, Yannan Zhang, Yan Zhao, Xiaohua Yu, Ju Rong, Hongying Hou
Summary: Freshwater scarcity is a global challenge for sustainable development, and a high-performance 2D desalination membrane is crucial. By using a density functional theory-machine learning framework, desalination membranes with favorable properties can be efficiently screened. The proposed research introduces innovative ideas for efficient screening and design of desalination membranes, which can significantly promote desalination technology.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhijing Li, Hui Lei, Zijun Mu, Yuan Zhang, Jingquan Zhang, Yigang Zhou, Huaqing Xie, Wei Yu
Summary: In this study, a flexible non-woven fabric loaded with reducing graphene oxide (RGO@fabric) is designed and prepared. It can remove salts formed by evaporation through a simple washing process and has high evaporation rate and efficiency. This fabric provides a new and promising approach for low-cost, high-efficiency, large-scale solar seawater desalination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yan Wang, Shaobin Wen, Bin Peng, Xinzhao Luo, Xin Liu, Tao Yang, Bingyu Wang, Qiang Zhang
Summary: Water scarcity drives the development of membrane technology for seawater desalination, but the energy consumption is usually high. This study focuses on fabricating cyclodextrin-based pervaporation membranes for low-temperature seawater desalination. By adjusting the hydrophilicity and inter-polymer chain distance, a molecular-level regulation strategy is developed. The HPAN/CD-Py membrane with the shortest inter-polymer chain distance but highest hydrophilicity shows the best desalination performance.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohd Rafie Bin Shaharudin, Christopher D. Williams, Paola Carbone
Summary: This work investigates the hydration and swelling mechanism of graphene oxide (GO) membranes using simulations. The results show that the degree of ionisation of functional groups affects water adsorption and swelling. Higher surface charge increases internal pressure, while the number of ionised groups affects water adsorption. These findings are crucial for the future development and application of GO membranes.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tatiana Latychevskaia, Colin Robert Woods, Yi Bo Wang, Matthew Holwill, Eric Prestat, Sara Mustafi, Sarah J. Haigh, Konstantin S. Novoselov
Summary: This study demonstrates the possibility of directly measuring scattering parameters through the intensity distribution of spots in CBED patterns. A method for recovering atomic scattering parameters from CBED patterns is proposed and validated through experiments and simulations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
P. Robin, T. Emmerich, A. Ismail, A. Nigues, Y. You, G. -H. Nam, A. Keerthi, A. Siria, A. K. Geim, B. Radha, L. Bocquet
Summary: Experiments reveal the emergence of memory in the transport of electrolytes across nanoscale channels, which lays the foundation for biomimetic computations.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Alessandro Landi, Maryam Reisjalali, Joshua D. Elliott, Micaela Matta, Paola Carbone, Alessandro Troisi
Summary: In organic polymeric materials with mixed ionic and electronic conduction, the dynamics of the polymer chain cannot be accurately described with a model including only fixed point charges. A scheme based on the combination of MD and QM/MM was constructed to evaluate the classical dynamics of polymer, water, and ions, while allowing the excess charge of the polymer chains to rearrange following the external electrostatic potential. The results indicate the importance of capturing the correlated motions of excess charge and ions in order to understand the phenomenology of these materials.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shouqi Shao, Gareth R. M. Tainton, W. J. Kuang, Nick Clark, Roman Gorbachev, Alexander Eggeman, Irina V. Grigorieva, Daniel J. Kelly, Sarah J. Haigh
Summary: Through the use of 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy (4DSTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), it was found that there is structural and chemical heterogeneity, as well as the formation of previously unknown intermediate superstructures, during potassium intercalation and deintercalation processes. The developed in situ correlative STEM-EDS methodology has the potential to determine optimal synthesis, processing, and working conditions for various intercalated or pillared materials.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jinxin Xie, Victoria S. Coker, Brian O'Driscoll, Rongsheng Cai, Sarah J. Haigh, Jonathan R. Lloyd
Summary: This study found that Geobacter sulfurreducens cannot directly reduce pentavalent antimony or cause its release. The results highlight the close associations between iron and antimony in environmental systems, suggesting the potential use of iron for remediation of antimony contamination.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Joshua D. Elliott, Mara Chiricotto, Alessandro Troisi, Paola Carbone
Summary: In this study, the charge storage properties of aqueous graphene and graphite-based supercapacitors in contact with fully polarizable charged graphene sheets were investigated using multiscale quantum mechanics-classical molecular dynamics (QMMD) method. It was found that the electrode specific capacitance remained constant with varying cationic radii and charge. The adsorption mechanism of cations and their diffusion behavior at the interface were influenced by surface effects such as surface polarization and partial dehydration.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nicodemo Di Pasquale, Aaron R. Finney, Joshua D. Elliott, Paola Carbone, Matteo Salvalaglio
Summary: We propose a new method that combines constant potential molecular dynamics simulations with quantum mechanics/molecular dynamics calculations to investigate the properties of graphene electrodes in contact with electrolytes. By applying this method to three ionic solutions, we accurately simulate the electrochemical double layer and analyze the screening ability and potential profile of the electrolytes at charged interfaces. Quantum mechanical simulations also allow us to calculate the quantum capacitance. Our findings shed light on the charge storage mechanism in graphene and have implications for desalination technology.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wei Sun, Q. M. Li, Ping Xiao, Paola Carbone
Summary: This study investigates the impact of compressed separators on the electrochemical performance of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and its underlying mechanisms. Two commercial separators, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), with different compressive behaviors were examined. The tortuosity values of compressed PP and PE separators were determined using Electrochemical Impedance Spectrum (EIS) tests. LIBs with compressed PP and PE separators were tested for their capacity performance, revealing that the critical compressive strain for significant reduction in LIB's capacity is the onset strain of densifications. The experimental observations are supported by COMSOL modeling results.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Na Xin, James Lourembam, Piranavan Kumaravadivel, A. E. Kazantsev, Zefei Wu, Ciaran Mullan, Julien Barrier, Alexandra A. Geim, I. V. Grigorieva, A. Mishchenko, A. Principi, V. I. Fal'ko, L. A. Ponomarenko, A. K. Geim, Alexey I. Berdyugin
Summary: The most distinctive feature of graphene is its electronic spectrum, in which the Dirac point is located. At low temperatures, the intrinsic behavior of this spectrum is often hidden by charge inhomogeneity, but thermal excitations can overcome the disorder at higher temperatures and create an electron-hole plasma. The behavior of this plasma in magnetic fields is not well understood at present.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohd Rafie bin Shaharudin, Christopher D. Williams, Amritroop Achari, Rahul R. Nair, Paola Carbone
Summary: We investigate the swelling mechanism of graphene oxide (GO) membranes exposed to different relative humidity (RH) values using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Our study reveals that the structure of GO membranes changes as water is adsorbed and the graphene oxide flakes become charged and swell. We find that the surface charge of the flakes drives the water adsorption mechanism, and the membrane undergoes structural changes only at very high relative humidity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenyuan Huang, Qingqing Mei, Shaojun Xu, Bing An, Meng He, Jiangnan Li, Yinlin Chen, Xue Han, Tian Luo, Lixia Guo, Joseph Hurd, Daniel Lee, Evan Tillotson, Sarah Haigh, Alex Walton, Sarah Day, Louise Natrajan, Martin Schroeder, Sihai Yang
Summary: This study reports the direct synthesis of N-formamides by coupling reductive amination of carbonyl compounds and CO2 fixation. A ruthenium catalyst supported by a metal-organic framework was used to achieve highly selective production of N-formamides. The presence of host-guest binding interactions between the catalyst and adsorbed substrates facilitated the activation of substrates and promoted selectivity.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Chi Wang, Thomas J. A. Slater, Gerard M. Leteba, Candace I. Lang, Zhong Lin Wang, Sarah J. Haigh
Summary: Tailoring the composition and morphology of nanoparticles is crucial for improving their catalytic performance. This study presents an in situ 3D imaging methodology using single particle reconstruction (SPR) that allows for the investigation of structural transformations and elemental redistribution in nanoparticles. The methodology is applied to study the restructuring of PtNi nanoparticles at elevated temperatures and reveals a transition from a disordered to an ordered phase. The changes in structure and elemental distribution are correlated with a decrease in catalytic activity. This in situ SPR methodology can be extended to study nanoparticle evolution in various environments.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Evgenii E. Vdovin, Mark T. Greenaway, Yurii N. Khanin, Sergey V. Morozov, Oleg Makarovsky, Amalia Patane, Artem Mishchenko, Sergey Slizovskiy, Vladimir I. Fal'ko, Andre K. Geim, Kostya S. Novoselov, Laurence Eaves
Summary: Insights into the fundamental properties of graphene's Dirac-Weyl fermions have been gained through studying electron tunnelling transistors with an atomically thin layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) sandwiched between two layers of high purity graphene. With the presence of a single defect within the hBN tunnel barrier, electrons can be injected into the graphene layers, and its well-defined energy level acts as a high resolution spectroscopic probe of electron-electron interactions in graphene. We observe a magnetic field dependent suppression of the tunnel current flowing through a single defect below temperatures of about 2 K, attributed to the formation of a magnetically-induced Coulomb gap in the spectral density of electrons tunnelling into graphene due to electron-electron interactions.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Giuliana Giunta, Lois Smith, Kristof Bartha, H. Ali Karimi-Varzaneh, Paola Carbone
Summary: Plasticisers are added to polymer composites to improve their processability. A study using a coarse-grained model shows that the filler surface coverage and dispersion into the polymer matrix can be controlled by varying the conformational flexibility of the plasticisers. This finding suggests a simple design rule for achieving optimal adsorption or dispersion with minor modifications to the plasticisers' chemistry.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Wendong Wang, Nicholas Clark, Matthew Hamer, Amy Carl, Endre Tovari, Sam Sullivan-Allsop, Evan Tillotson, Yunze Gao, Hugo de Latour, Francisco Selles, James Howarth, Eli G. Castanon, Mingwei Zhou, Haoyu Bai, Xiao Li, Astrid Weston, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Cecilia Mattevi, Thomas H. Bointon, Paul V. Wiper, Andrew J. Strudwick, Leonid A. Ponomarenko, Andrey V. Kretinin, Sarah J. Haigh, Alex Summerfield, Roman Gorbachev
Summary: We report a polymer-free technique for assembling van der Waals heterostructures using flexible silicon nitride membranes. This technique allows the fabrication of high-quality heterostructures in harsher environmental conditions, resulting in improved electronic and optoelectronic behavior. Specifically, we demonstrate the improved homogeneity of moire superlattices in twisted-graphene heterostructures assembled using this technique.
NATURE ELECTRONICS
(2023)
