Synthesis and Applications of Functional Carbon Nanomaterials

摘要：人们越来越需要更具成本效益的便携式方法来测量和识别与环境、健康和工业过程相关的分子物种。传统的分析仪器通常需要熟练的操作人员，而且价格昂贵，体积庞大。这项研究旨在通过创造新的电子纳米材料，使这些测量方法取得进展，这些材料能够形成高度特异性的化学传感器。在这种材料中创造选择性的关键是能够定制化学环境，使它们与感兴趣的分子相互作用或反应。新的化学反应将被开发出来，将基团附着在碳纳米管上，并制造出能根据目标分子的存在传导或多或少电流的纳米线。由这些新型纳米材料制成的传感器重量轻，功耗低，可以成为新一代功能材料的基础。纳米结构材料将被开发出来，用于检测工作场所或家庭中可能遇到的有毒或生物活性化学物质。技术摘要：该项目将通过开发/改进导致不同基团共价附着在石墨烯pi表面的反应来创造新的功能碳纳米管（CNTs）和石墨烯。这些方法将扩展可连接的官能团的多样性，并实现新的材料概念和功能接口。将利用反应性中间体如氟化碳烯和亚硝基烯开发新的功能化方法。我们将通过确定功能化对材料中载体迁移率的影响来指导我们的工作。从理论上预测，羰基和亚硝基的产物对扩展电子结构的扰动最小。除了完善和扩展先前启动的方法外，该计划还将探索更复杂的分子支架的共价附着，从而为感兴趣的分子创建结合位点。目标材料的功能特性为有影响力的实际应用提供了自然过渡。其中包括为在化学/聚合物生产和/或涂层过程中可能接触有害化学品的工人提供可穿戴传感器的转导材料。创建可溶形式的SWCNTs和石墨烯为制造用于界面选择性组装的有机电子器件提供了广泛的机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical Abstract:There is an increasing need for more cost-effective, portable methods to measure and identify molecular species related to the environment, health, and industrial processes. Traditional analytical instruments often require a skilled operator and are expensive and bulky. This research seeks to make advances in these measurement methods by creating new electronic nanomaterials that enable the formation of highly specific chemical sensors. Key to creating selectivity in such materials is the ability to tailor the chemical environment so that they interact or react with the molecule of interest. New chemical reactions will be developed to attach groups to carbon nanotubes and create nanowires that will conduct more or less electrical current in response to the presence of a target molecule. Sensors empowered by these new nanomaterials can be lightweight, have very low power requirements, and can be the basis of new generations of functional materials. Nanostructured materials will be developed that detect toxic or biologically active chemicals that can be encountered in the workplace or at home. Technical Abstract:This project will create new functional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphenes by developing/improving reactions that lead to the covalent attachment of different groups to the graphene pi-surfaces. These methods will expand the diversity of functional groups that can be attached and enable novel material concepts and functional interfaces. New functionalization methods will be developed using reactive intermediates such as fluorinated carbenes and nitrenes. We will direct our efforts by determining the impact of functionalization on the mobility of the carriers in the materials. It has been theoretically predicted that the products from carbenes and nitrenes will result in minimal perturbations to the extended electronic structure. In addition to perfecting and extending the methods initiated previously, this program will explore the covalent attachment of more complex molecular scaffolds that can create binding sites for molecules of interest. The functional nature of the target materials provides natural transitions to impactful, real-world applications. These include transduction materials that enable wearable sensors for workers who may be exposed to harmful chemicals in chemical/polymer production and/or coating processes. Creating soluble forms of SWCNTs and graphene opens a wide range of opportunities for fabrication of organic electronics for the selective assembly at interfaces.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.