Liquid phase exfoliation has become an important method for the production of large quantities of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets. This method is versatile, having been used to produce dozens of different 2D materials in a range of stabilizing liquids. The resultant liquid-suspended nanosheets have been characterized in great detail and have been processed into a number of structures for a wide range of applications. This has led to a growing number of researchers adopting this method. As a result, best practice in terms of experimental procedure has evolved rapidly over recent years. As experimental complexity has increased, it has become more and more difficult to discuss the rational behind a chosen experimental procedure in full detail using standard “Methods” sections due to the frequent use of procedures developed in related prior reports. This can make it difficult to reproduce complex procedures and acts as a barrier to new researchers entering the field. To address this shortcoming, here we descr...

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Guidelines for Exfoliation, Characterization and Processing of Layered Materials Produced by Liquid Exfoliation

The preparation of dispersions of single- and few-sheet 2D materials in various solvents, as well as the characterization methods applied to such dispersions, is critically reviewed. Motivating factors for producing single- and few-sheet dispersions of 2D materials in liquids are briefly discussed. Many practical applications are expected for such materials that do not require high purity formulations and tight control of donor and acceptor concentrations, as required in conventional Fab processing of semiconductor chips. Approaches and challenges encountered in exfoliating 2D materials in liquids are reviewed. Ultrasonication, mechanical shearing, and electrochemical processing approaches are discussed, and their respective limitations and promising features are critiqued. Supercritical and more conventional liquid and solvent processing are then discussed in detail. The effects of various types of stabilizers, including surfactants and other amphiphiles, as well as polymers, including homopolymeric electrolytes, nonionic polymers, and nanolatexes, are discussed. Consideration of apparent successes of stabilizer-free dispersions indicates that extensive exfoliation in the absence of dispersing aids results from processing-induced surface modifications that promote stabilization of 2D material/solvent interactions. Also apparent paradoxes in “pristineness” and optical extinctions in dispersions suggest that there is much we do not yet quantitatively understand about the surface chemistry of these materials. Another paradox, emanating from modeling dilute solvent-only exfoliation by sonication using polar components of solubility parameters and surface tension for pristine graphene with no polar structural component, is addressed. This apparent paradox appears to be resolved by realizing that the reactivity of graphene to addition reactions of solvent radicals produced by sonolysis is accompanied by unintended polar surface modifications that promote attractive interactions with solvent. This hypothesis serves to define important theoretical and experimental studies that are needed. We conclude that the greatest promise for high volume and high concentration processing lies in applying methods that have not yet been extensively reported, particularly wet comminution processing using small grinding media of various types.

Scalable exfoliation and dispersion of two-dimensional materials - an update.

The revelation of the anticancer properties of cisplatin has inspired research into metal complexes for the treatment of cancer. Several second and third generation cisplatin analogues were developed with claims of good anticancer properties and reduced side effects. However, the persistence of some side effects and the resistance of cancer cells have tempted scientists to explore new metal complexes as anticancer drugs. Therefore, the approach of rational drug design has been extended to the development of non-platinum anticancer drugs, and a large number of such complexes have been developed. Iron complexes are of interest to inorganic medicinal chemists for the development of anticancer agents. The anticancer potency of iron complexes was first reported in ferrocenium picrate and ferrocenium trichloroacetate salts, and was attributed to their ability to form reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative DNA damage. This review discusses the advances in iron complexes as anticancer agents. The aspects of the photocytotoxicity, redox activity and multinuclearity of anticancer iron complexes are discussed, in addition to discussing ferrocenyl derivatives and salen complexes. The legacy of nanotechnology and synergism in harnessing the potential of iron complexes is highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of iron complexes as anticancer agents are outlined.

Recent advances in iron complexes as potential anticancer agents

Benefits, Problems, and Solutions of Silver Nanowire Transparent Conductive Electrodes in Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)-Free Flexible Solar Cells

Recently, flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs) have attracted extensive attention as an essential element for future organic electronics (OEs), i.e. solution-processable, scalable and flexible organic electronics (FOEs). Although the traditional transparent electrode indium tin oxide (ITO) has been widely used in OEs, its brittleness and high cost significantly limit its application in the next generation of devices, typically flexible electronics. Thus, many alternatives, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, conductive polymers, metal nanowires, metal grids and electrospun metallic nanofibers, have arisen at the forefront of FTEs. Among them, silver nanowire (AgNW) networks have attracted particular attention due to their excellent electrical conductivity and high transmittance, as well as facile availability and low cost. Since many studies on AgNWs have been published, a comprehensive review highlighting the advantages of AgNWs in FOEs is highly required. In this review, the synthesis and film fabrication of AgNWs have been firstly summarized, focusing especially on the properties of conductivity and light transmittance. Next, post treatments with different approaches to improve the conductivity of AgNWs have been included. And then, characterization of FTEs has been introduced with details on key parameters for FOEs. Furthermore, AgNW-based FOEs have been summarized to demonstrate the recent progress, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic solar cells (OSCs), light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), organic field effect transistors (OFETs), organic memory devices (OMDs), etc. Finally, perspectives for AgNWs in FOEs have been discussed and concluded as well. It is expected that AgNWs could be the focus of future FOEs compared with other alternatives in terms of their advantages of optoelectronic properties, film-formation, solution-processability and flexibility.

Recent progress in silver nanowire networks for flexible organic electronics

Low-cost and high yield silver nanorings with the uniform ring diameter of 15±5 μm and thickness of 120±20 nm were synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. Based on our knowledge, this is the first time that a solvothermal method is used to prepare silver nanorings. Herein, by using ammonium salts as additive salts in the presence of pressure (150 kPa) inside the reactor, the reproducibility and yield of nanorings increased. The prepared silver nanorings easily dispersed in ethanol and have been coated by spray method on PET substrate to make flexible transparent conductive films (TCF). The film based on nanorings was shown better opto-electrical properties (higher transparency with lower haze) in comparison with nanowires with higher aspect ratio and lower thickness, at the same sheet resistance (Rs). These results introduce silver nanorings as outstanding candidates for optoelectronics applications.

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/chem.201806019

Silver Nanorings: New Generation of Transparent Conductive Films

Highly concentrated and stable few-layers graphene suspensions in pure and volatile organic solvents

Four samples of transparent conductive films with different numbers of silver nanorings per unit area were produced. The sheet resistance, transparency, and haze were measured for each sample. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we studied the electrical conductivity of random resistor networks produced by the random deposition of the conducting rings onto the substrate. Both systems of equal-sized rings and systems with rings of different sizes were simulated. Our simulations demonstrated the linear dependence of the electrical conductivity on the number of rings per unit area. Size dispersity decreased the percolation threshold, but without having any other significant effect on the behavior of the electrical conductance. Analytical estimations obtained for dense systems of equal-sized conductive rings were consistent with the simulations.

Transparent electrodes with nanorings: a computational point of view

‒1 . The fluorescence study represents the quenching effect of 2,4-DHS on bound ethidium bromide to DNA. The quenching process obeys linear Stern-Volmer equation in extended range of 2,4-DHS concentration. Thermal denaturation experiments represent the increasing of melting temperature of DNA (about 3.5 o C) due to binding of 2,4-DHS. These results are consistent with a binding mode dominated by interactions with the groove of ct-DNA.

Azin Hassanpour

Papers

Benefits, Problems, and Solutions of Silver Nanowire Transparent Conductive Electrodes in Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)-Free Flexible Solar Cells

Silver Nanorings: New Generation of Transparent Conductive Films

Highly concentrated and stable few-layers graphene suspensions in pure and volatile organic solvents

Transparent electrodes with nanorings: a computational point of view

Interaction of ct-DNA with 2,4-Dihydroxy Salophen