Chemical modification of surfaces

拟议的研究计划侧重于化学改性表面领域的新基础知识的获取。新型生物传感器、生物材料、化学传感器、分子电子学、电催化、防腐蚀、能量转换和储存（例如，燃料电池、太阳能电池、蓄电池和电化学电容器）系统或改进当前系统的性能和稳定性。 在这项研究计划中，我们将研究用于制造能量存储和转换系统中电极的材料改性的新方法。两个主要因素使这项研究计划具有高度创新性。首先，向复合电极的电极材料组分（活性材料、碳添加剂和粘合剂）添加多功能性是新颖的，并且可以导致显著的进步。除了活性材料之外，碳添加剂通常用于增加电极的电子传导性，并且粘合剂用于确保机械稳定性。在这项研究计划中，将为活性电极材料提供类似粘合剂的性能，并将电活性分子附着在碳添加剂和粘合剂上。其次，石墨烯基材料将通过电化学剥离/化学改性过程来制备。一锅法将涉及通过石墨的电化学剥离形成石墨烯片，随后是重氮离子和金属络合物的自发还原，以分别提供由有机分子和金属颗粒改性的石墨烯片。 这项研究计划所获得的知识对于开发改进和更安全的储能系统非常重要，正如2015年10月29日《自然展望电池》增刊中所讨论的那样。此外，用金属纳米颗粒改性的石墨烯片可以用作电催化剂，例如在燃料电池中。

The proposed research program focuses on the acquisition of new basic knowledge in the area of chemically modified surfaces. Modification of materials is required for the development of novel biosensors, biomaterials, chemical sensors, molecular electronics, electrocatalysis, corrosion protection and energy conversion and storage (eg. fuel cells, solar cells, batteries and electrochemical capacitors) systems or improved the performance and stability of the current ones. In this research program, we will investigate new approaches for the modification of materials used to fabricate electrodes in energy storage and conversion systems. Two main elements make this research program highly innovative. Firstly, addition of multifunctionality to electrode material components (active material, carbon additive and binder) of the composite electrode is novel and may lead to significant advances. In addition to the active material, a carbon additive is commonly used to increase the electronic conductivity of the electrode and a binder to insure mechanical stability. In this research program, binder-like properties will be provided to active electrode materials and electroactive molecules will be attached to the carbon additive and the binder. Secondly, graphene based materials will be prepared by coupled electrochemical exfoliation/chemical modification processes. A one-pot process will involve the formation of graphene sheets by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite that will be followed by the spontaneous reduction of diazonium ions and metal complexes to afford graphene sheets modified by organic molecules and metal particles, respectively. The knowledge obtained with this research program is important for the development of improved and safer energy storage systems as discussed in the recent Nature Outlook Batteries supplement of October 29, 2015. Also, graphene sheets modified with metal nanoparticles could be useful as electrocatalysts, for example in fuel cells.