Direct Synthesis of Layer-Tunable and Transfer-Free Graphene on Device-Compatible Substrates Using Ion Implantation Toward Versatile Applications

Direct synthesis of layer-tunable and transfer-free graphene on technologically important substrates is highly valued for various electronics and device applications.State of the art in the field is currently a two-step process:a high-quality graphene layer synthesis on metal substrate through chemical vapor deposition(CVD)followed by delicate layer transfer onto device-relevant substrates.Here,we report a novel synthesis approach combining ion implantation for a precise graphene layer control and dual-metal smart Janus substrate for a diffusion-limiting graphene formation to directly synthesize large area,high quality,and layer-tunable graphene films on arbitrary substrates without the post-synthesis layer transfer process.Carbon(C)ion implantation was performed on Cu-Ni film deposited on a variety of device-relevant substrates.A well-controlled number of layers of graphene,primarily monolayer and bilayer,is precisely controlled by the equivalent fluence of the implanted C-atoms(1 monolayer~4×10^(15)C-atoms/cm^(2)).Upon thermal annealing to promote Cu-Ni alloying,the pre-implanted C-atoms in the Ni layer are pushed toward the Ni/substrate interface by the top Cu layer due to the poor C-solubility in Cu.As a result,the expelled C-atoms precipitate into a graphene structure at the interface facilitated by the Cu-like alloy catalysis.After removing the alloyed Cu-like surface layer,the layer-tunable graphene on the desired substrate is directly realized.The layer-selectivity,high quality,and uniformity of the graphene films are not only confirmed with detailed characterizations using a suite of surface analysis techniques but more importantly are successfully demonstrated by the excellent properties and performance of several devices directly fabricated from these graphene films.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulations using the reactive force field(ReaxFF)were performed to elucidate the graphene formation mechanisms in this novel synthesis approach.With the wide use of ion implantation technology in the microelectronics industry,this novel graphene synthesis approach with precise layer-tunability and transfer-free processing has the promise to advance efficient graphene-device manufacturing and expedite their versatile applications in many fields.

The safety aspect of sodium ion batteries for practical applications

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)with advantages of abundant resource and low cost have emerged as promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems.However,safety issues existing in electrolytes,anodes,and cathodes bring about frequent accidents regarding battery fires and explosions and impede the development of high-performance SIBs.Therefore,safety analysis and high-safety battery design have become prerequisites for the development of advanced energy storage systems.The reported reviews that only focus on a specific issue are difficult to provide overall guidance for building high-safety SIBs.To overcome the limitation,this review summarizes the recent research progress from the perspective of key components of SIBs for the first time and evaluates the characteristics of various improvement strategies.By orderly analyzing the root causes of safety problems associated with different components in SIBs(including electrolytes,anodes,and cathodes),corresponding improvement strategies for each component were discussed systematically.In addition,some noteworthy points and perspectives including the chain reaction between security issues and the selection of improvement strategies tailored to different needs have also been proposed.In brief,this review is designed to deepen our understanding of the SIBs safety issues and provide guidance and assistance for designing high-safety SIBs.

Preparation of waterborne polyurethane/β-cyclodextrin composite nanosponge by ion condensation method and its application in removing of dyes from wastewater

Currently,polymer nanosponges have received extensive attention.However,developing new synthetic techniques for novel nanosponges remains a challenge.Furthermore,to date,composite nanosponge adsorbents based on waterborne polyurethane(WPU)andβ-cyclodextrin(β-CD)have not been reported.Herein,a novel green method,ion condensation method,was developed in this study for the preparation of polymer nanosponge adsorbents for efficient removal of dyes from wastewater.Based on the principle of charge repulsion between nanoparticles to maintain emulsion stability,waterborne polyurethane/β-cyclodextrin composite nanosponges(WPU-x,y)were prepared by coagulating the emulsions synthesized from 2,2-dimethylolpropionic acid,polypropylene glycol and hexamethylene diisocyanate as raw materials in a mixture of hydrochloric acid and anhydrous ethanol.The structure and appearance of WPU-x,y were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,thermal gravimetric analyzer,scanning electron microscope and mercury intrusion porosimetry.The adsorption capacity of WPU-x,y was tested by parameters such as cross-linking degree,β-CD dosage,contact time,initial dye concentration and p H value.The study found that WPU-4,4.62 had the best adsorption effect on methylene blue(MB),the maximum removal rate was 93.42%,and the maximum adsorption capacity was 136.03 mg·g^(-1).Moreover,the Sips isotherm and pseudo-second-order-model were suitable for MB adsorption.Therefore,this study provides some perspectives for the fabrication of nanosponge adsorbents.

Clinical Application and Prospect of New Radiotherapy Technology in Cancer Treatment

Objective: Carbon ion therapy, a new radiotherapy technology, has shown its remarkable efficacy and potential in cancer treatment, especially in the treatment of refractory tumors. Methods: This paper clarifies the physical basis, technological change, and clinical practice effect of carbon ion therapy, comprehensively discusses the future prospects, and evaluates the clinical application effect. Results: The technology has significantly improved the treatment effectiveness and received a positive response from patients. Conclusion: Carbon ion therapy technology has become a major innovation in the field of cancer treatment. It not only has a profound impact on many current cancer therapy methods but also indicates the application blueprint for a wider range of cancer types in the future, showing a new chapter of medical technology advancement.

Preparation of uniform flower-like CuO and flower-like CuO/graphene composite and their application in lithium ion batteries

Flower-like CuO and flower-like CuO/graphene composite were prepared successfully by hydrothermal method. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, temperature-programmed reduction, and thermogravimetric analysis. It is found that the flower-like CuO microspheres, which are composed of CuO nanosheets, possess an average diameter of 4.2 μm and a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 12.6 m2/g. Compared with the flower-like CuO, the obtained flower-like CuO/graphene composite shows an enhanced electrochemical performance with a higher capacity of 603 mA-h/g at 0.1 C rate and 382 mA-h/g at 1 C rate, and exhibits a better cycle stability with a high capacity retention of 95.5 % after 50 cycles even though at 1 C rate.

Synthesis of one-dimensional carbon nanostructures and their application as anode materials in lithium ion batteries

An efficient synthesis of carbon nanofibers by pyrolysis of as-prepared polypyrrole nanowires was reported. Under the subsequent KOH activation, a significant morphology variation was detected and the obtained sample took on a ribbon-like structure. The morphology and structure of the carbon nanofibers and carbon nanoribbons were characterized. When the as-prepared one-dimensional carbon nanostructures were used as anode materials in lithium ion batteries, both of them exhibited superior cyclical stability and good rate properties. After 50 cycles, the reversible capacity of carbon nanofibers electrode maintained 530 mA·h/g. Concerning carbon nanoribbons, the reversible capacity is always larger than 850 mA·h/g and the reversible capacity retention after 23 cycles is 86%.

Synthesis of platy potassium magnesium titanate and its application in removal of copper ions from aqueous solution

Platy potassium magnesium titanate (K0.8Mg0.4Ti1.6O4, KMTO) was synthesized by a flux method. The potential application of KMTO in removing copper ions from water pollutants was investigated. The crystal phases of specimens were identified by XRD. The morphology and structural information were characterized by SEM and TEM. The adsorption behavior under different conditions was investigated, including different pH values and different initial copper ion concentrations. The results show that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cu(II) ions is 290.697 mg/g, and almost 99.9% of Cu(II) ions can be removed, which is much higher than that of other sorbents reported. The kinetics of KMTO for the adsorption of Cu(II)ions was studied and the best fit can be obtained by the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption isothermal data can be well interpreted by the Freundlich equation (R2=0.991). In conclusion, this study highlights that KMTO is a potential material for the efficient removal of heavy metal ions in polluted water. It also opens up a new opportunity for the applications of platy KMTO.

Access to advanced sodium-ion batteries by presodiation:Principles and applications

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)are expected to offer affordability and high energy density for large-scale energy storage system.However,the commercial application of SIBs is hurdled by low initial coulombic efficiency(ICE),continuous Na loss during long-term operation,and low sodium-content of cathode materials.In this scenario,presodiation strategy by introducing an external sodium reservoir has been rationally proposed,which could supplement additional sodium ions into the system and thereby markedly improve both the cycling performance and energy density of SIBs.In this review,the significance of presodiation is initially introduced,followed by comprehensive interpretation on technological properties,underlying principles,and associated approaches,as well as our perspectives on present inferiorities and future research directions.Overall,this contribution outlines a distinct pathway towards the presodiation methodology,of significance but still in its nascent phase,which may inspire the targeted guidelines to explore new chemistry in this field.

Rare earth ion modified TiO_2 sols for photocatalysis application under visible light excitation

TiO_2 sols modified by rare earth (RE) ions (Ce^(4+), Eu^(3+), or Nd^(3+))were prepared by coprecipitation-peptization method. The photocatalysis activity was studied byinvestigating the photodegradation effects of active brilliant red dye X-3B. It is found that TiO_2sols modified by Ce^(4+), Eu^(3+), or Nd^(3+) have the anatase crystalline structure, which areprepared at 70℃. All RE^(n+)-TiO_2 sol samples have uniform nanoparticles with similar morphology,which are homogenously distributed in aqueous colloidal systems. The particle sizes are 10, 8, and12 nm for Nd^(3+)-TiO_2, Eu^(3+)-TiO_2, and Ce^(4+)-TiO_2, respectively. The character of ultrafineand positive charge sol particles contributes to the good adsorption of X-3B dye molecule on thesurface of titania (about 30% X-3B adsorption amount). Experimental results exhibit thatRE^(n+)-TiO_2 sol photocatalysts have the capability to photodegrade X-3B under visible lightirradiation. Nd^(3+)-TiO_2 and Eu^(3+)-TiO_2 show higher photocatalytic activity than Ce^(4+)-TiO_2,which is due to the difference of standard redox potential of RE^(n+)/RE^((n-1)+). RE^(n+)-TiO_2sols demonstrate more excellent interfacial adsorption and photodegradation effects to X-3B thanP_(25) TiO_2 crystallites. Moreover, the degradation mechanism of X-3B is proposed as dyephotosensitization and electron scavenging by rare earth ions.

Application of ion chromatography to the determination of water-soluble inorganic and organic ions in atmospheric aerosols

A simple, sensitive and convenient ion chromatography(IC) method was established for the simultaneous determination of twelve water-soluble inorganic anions(F -, Cl -, NO - 2, NO - 3, SO 2- 3, SO 2- 4, PO 3- 4), and fifteen water-soluble organic ions(formate, acetate, MSA, oxalate, malonate, succinate, phthalates, etc.) in atmospheric aerosols. The linear concentrations ranged from 0.005 μg/m 3 to 500 μg/m 3(r = 0.999—0.9999). The relative standard deviation(RSD) were 0.43%—2.00% and the detection limits were from 2.7 ng/m 3 to 88 ng/m 3. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of those inorganic ions and organic ions in PM 2.5 of Beijing.

The application of nanostructured transition metal sulfides as anodes for lithium ion batteries

With wide application of electric vehicles and large-scale in energy storage systems, the requirement ofsecondary batteries with higher power density and better safety gets urgent. Owing to the merits of hightheoretical capacity, relatively low cost and suitable discharge voltage, much attention has been paid tothe transition metal sulfides. Recently, a large amount of research papers have reported about the appli-cation of transition metal sulfides in lithium ion batteries. However, the practical application of transitionmetal sulfides is still impeded by their fast capacity fading and poor rate performance. More well-focusedresearches should be operated towards the commercialization of transition metal sulfides in lithium ionbatteries. In this review, recent development of using transition metal sulfides such as copper sulfides,molybdenum sulfides, cobalt sulfides, and iron sulfides as electrode materials for lithium ion batteriesis presented. In addition, the electrochemical reaction mechanisms and synthetic strategy of transitionmetal sulfides are briefly summarized. The critical issues, challenges, and perspectives providing a fur-ther understanding of the associated electrochemical processes are also discussed.

A universal thermodynamic model of calculating mass action concentrations for structural units or ion couples in aqueous solutions and its applications in binary and ternary aqueous solutions

A universal thermodynamic model of calculating mass action concentrations for structural units or ion couples in ternary and binary strong electrolyte aqueous solution was developed based on the ion and molecule coexistence theory and verified in four kinds of binary aqueous solutions and two kinds of ternary aqueous solutions. The calculated mass action concentrations of structural units or ion couples in four binary aqueous solutions and two ternary solutions at 298.15 K have good agreement with the reported activity data from literatures after shifting the standard state and concentration unit. Therefore, the calculated mass action concentrations of structural units or ion couples from the developed universal thermodynamic model for ternary and binary aqueous solutions can be applied to predict reaction ability of components in ternary and binary strong electrolyte aqueous solutions. It is also proved that the assumptions applied in the developed thermodynamic model are correct and reasonable, i.e., strong electrolyte aqueous solution is composed of cations and anions as simple ions, H2O as simple molecule and other hydrous salt compounds as complex molecules. The calculated mass action concentrations of structural units or ion couples in ternary and binary strong electrolyte aqueous solutions strictly follow the mass action law.

The development of data acquisition and processing application system for RF ion source

As the key ion source component of nuclear fusion auxiliary heating devices, the radio frequency （RF） ion source is developed and applied gradually to offer a source plasma with the advantages of ease of control and high reliability. In addition, it easily achieves long-pulse steady-state operation. During the process of the development and testing of the RF ion source, a lot of original experimental data will be generated. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a stable and reliable computer data acquisition and processing application system for realizing the functions of data acquisition, storage, access, and real-time monitoring. In this paper, the development of a data acquisition and processing application system for the RF ion source is presented. The hardware platform is based on the PXI system and the software is programmed on the LabVIEW development environment. The key technologies that are used for the implementation of this software programming mainly include the long-pulse data acquisition technology, multi- threading processing technology, transmission control communication protocol, and the Lempel-Ziv-Oberhumer data compression algorithm. Now, this design has been tested and applied on the RF ion source. The test results show that it can work reliably and steadily. With the help of this design, the stable plasma discharge data of the RF ion source are collected, stored, accessed, and monitored in real-time. It is shown that it has a very practical application significance for the RF experiments.

Application of ionic liquids in hydrometallurgy of nonferrous metals

Ionic liquids as green solvents have shown important application in the extraction and separation of nonferrous metals.The new application perspective,the important fundamental and the applied studies of the extraction and separation of nonferrous metals in ionic liquids,including the dissolution and corrosion of metal and metal oxide,hydrometallurgy of chalcopyrite and metallic oxidized ore,and extraction and separation of metal ions,are introduced.

Application of a simple calorimetric data analysis on the binding study of cyanide ions by Jack bean urease

Cyanide ion was studied as an effector of Jack bean urease(JBU) at 300 K in 30 mmol/LTris buffer,pH 7 by isothermal titration calorimetry(ITC).The simple novel model was used for CN^- + JBU interaction over the whole range of CN^- concentrations.The binding parameters recovered from the simple novel model were attributed to the cyanide ion interaction.It was found that cyanide ion acted as a noncooperative inhibitor of JBU,and there is a set of 12 identical and independent binding sites for CN^- ions.The di...

Layer by layer synthesis of Sn-Co-C microcomposites and their application in lithium ion batteries

Alloy anodes were studied for pursuing Sn-based microcomposite synthesis, assembly and performance for lithium ion batteries. The self-assembled Sn-Co-C composites with nano-scaled microstructures were prepared via solution method and carbothermal technology. The morphology and physical structure were investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-prepared materials were assembled to half cell coin for the purpose of discussing the galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry and rate-capability performance. Results reveal that nanoscaled CoSn 2 alloys covered with Sn and C layer by layer are wrapped by cross-linked porous carbon network to form spherical microstructure. This distinguishing feature of Sn-Co-C composites provides a possible solution to the problems of Sn particle aggregation and poor electron transport, and has strong effect on improving electrochemical performance.

Application of Liquid Solid Semi-moving Bed to Fractionation of Cesium Ion in Wastewater

A liquid solid semi-moving bed with non-mechanical particle transport system is proposed and used for fractionation of cesium ion in wastewater. The particle transport system, which consists of a suction chamber, a mixing chamber, a nozzle and a riser tube, is designed to be controlled completely by hydraulic force. Experiments show that continuous feeding and discharging of resin can be realized by the transport system. The removal of cesium ion from wastewater is realized, The concentration of cesium ion in effluent liquid remains below 0,1g·L^-1 （the initial concentration is 5,3g·L^-1） during the 73 hours＇ experiment. The average exchange capacity of resin discharged from the bed is 0.57mmol,（g dry resin）^-1, which is close to the saturated capacity of 0.65mmol·g^-1. And it is also proved that the non-homogeneity of particle vertical velocity along the radial direction can seriously influence the ion-exchange process.

Applications and functions of rare-earth ions in perovskite solar cells

The emerging perovskite solar cells have been recognized as one of the most promising new-generation photovoltaic technologies owing to their potential of high efficiency and low production cost. However, the current perovskite solar cells suffer from some obstacles such as non-radiative charge recombination, mismatched absorption, light induced degradation for the further improvement of the power conversion efficiency and operational stability towards practical application. The rare-earth elements have been recently employed to effectively overcome these drawbacks according to their unique photophysical properties. Herein, the recent progress of the application of rare-earth ions and their functions in perovskite solar cells were systematically reviewed. As it was revealed that the rare-earth ions can be coupled with both charge transport metal oxides and photosensitive perovskites to regulate the thin film formation, and the rare-earth ions are embedded either substitutionally into the crystal lattices to adjust the optoelectronic properties and phase structure, or interstitially at grain boundaries and surface for effective defect passivation. In addition, the reversible oxidation and reduction potential of rare-earth ions can prevent the reduction and oxidation of the targeted materials. Moreover, owing to the presence of numerous energetic transition orbits, the rare-earth elements can convert low-energy infrared photons or high-energy ultraviolet photons into perovskite responsive visible light, to extend spectral response range and avoid high-energy light damage. Therefore, the incorporation of rare-earth elements into the perovskite solar cells have demonstrated promising potentials to simultaneously boost the device efficiency and stability.

Insights on advanced g‐C_(3)N_(4)in energy storage:Applications,challenges,and future

Graphitic carbon nitride(g‐C_(3)N_(4))is a highly recognized two‐dimensional semiconductor material known for its exceptional chemical and physical stability,environmental friendliness,and pollution‐free advantages.These remarkable properties have sparked extensive research in the field of energy storage.This review paper presents the latest advances in the utilization of g‐C_(3)N_(4)in various energy storage technologies,including lithium‐ion batteries,lithium‐sulfur batteries,sodium‐ion batteries,potassium‐ion batteries,and supercapacitors.One of the key strengths of g‐C_(3)N_(4)lies in its simple preparation process along with the ease of optimizing its material structure.It possesses abundant amino and Lewis basic groups,as well as a high density of nitrogen,enabling efficient charge transfer and electrolyte solution penetration.Moreover,the graphite‐like layered structure and the presence of largeπbonds in g‐C_(3)N_(4)contribute to its versatility in preparing multifunctional materials with different dimensions,element and group doping,and conjugated systems.These characteristics open up possibilities for expanding its application in energy storage devices.This article comprehensively reviews the research progress on g‐C_(3)N_(4)in energy storage and highlights its potential for future applications in this field.By exploring the advantages and unique features of g‐C_(3)N_(4),this paper provides valuable insights into harnessing the full potential of this material for energy storage applications.

Fabrication and adsorption property of novel adsorbent for potential application to wastewater with Fe(Ⅲ) ions

The spherical macroporous cellulose(SMC) was fabricated using medical absorbent cotton as raw material and nano CaCO3 as porogenic agents.And then,the phenylglycine was grafted onto the SMC to obtain the novel spherical macroporous cellulose derivative adsorbent(PSMC).FT-IR and scanning electron microscope(SEM) were employed to characterize the adsorbents and Fe3+ ions served as model solute to evaluate the adsorption property of the adsorbents.The experimental results show that the amount of porogenic agents and the value of pH have obvious influence on adsorption capacity of the adsorbents.The data of adsorption kinetic and isotherm display that the adsorbents possess excellent equilibrium adsorption capacity(348.94 mg/g) and have a bright prospect and considerable potential in the treatment of Fe3+ ions in wastewater.