The reduction of graphene oxide

Conventionally, engineers have employed rigid materials to fabricate precise, predictable robotic systems, which are easily modelled as rigid members connected at discrete joints. Natural systems, however, often match or exceed the performance of robotic systems with deformable bodies. Cephalopods, for example, achieve amazing feats of manipulation and locomotion without a skeleton; even vertebrates such as humans achieve dynamic gaits by storing elastic energy in their compliant bones and soft tissues. Inspired by nature, engineers have begun to explore the design and control of soft-bodied robots composed of compliant materials. This Review discusses recent developments in the emerging field of soft robotics.

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Design, fabrication and control of soft robots

Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Every few years, a new material with unique properties emerges and fascinates the scientific community, typical recent examples being high-temperature superconductors and carbon nanotubes. Graphene is the latest sensation with unusual properties, such as half-integer quantum Hall effect and ballistic electron transport. This two-dimensional material which is the parent of all graphitic carbon forms is strictly expected to comprise a single layer, but there is considerable interest in investigating two-layer and few-layer graphenes as well. Synthesis and characterization of graphenes pose challenges, but there has been considerable progress in the last year or so. Herein, we present the status of graphene research which includes aspects related to synthesis, characterization, structure, and properties.

Graphene: The New Two-Dimensional Nanomaterial

Approaches, Derivatives and Applications Vasilios Georgakilas,† Michal Otyepka,‡ Athanasios B. Bourlinos,‡ Vimlesh Chandra, Namdong Kim, K. Christian Kemp, Pavel Hobza,‡,§,⊥ Radek Zboril,*,‡ and Kwang S. Kim* †Institute of Materials Science, NCSR “Demokritos”, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis, 15310 Athens, Greece ‡Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic Center for Superfunctional Materials, Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San 31, Hyojadong, Namgu, Pohang 790-784, Korea Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo naḿ. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic

Functionalization of Graphene: Covalent and Non-Covalent Approaches, Derivatives and Applications

[Chen, Zongping; Ren, Wencai; Gao, Libo; Liu, Bilu; Pei, Songfeng; Cheng, Hui-Ming] Chinese Acad Sci, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China.;Cheng, HM (reprint author), Chinese Acad Sci, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China;cheng@imr.ac.cn

Three-dimensional flexible and conductive interconnected graphene networks grown by chemical vapour deposition

[Wu, Zhong-Shuai; Ren, Wencai; Wen, Lei; Gao, Libo; Zhao, Jinping; Chen, Zongping; Zhou, Guangmin; Li, Feng; Cheng, Hui-Ming] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China;Ren, WC (reprint author), Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, 72 Wenhua Rd, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China;wcren@imraccn cheng@imraccn

Graphene Anchored with Co 3 O 4 Nanoparticles as Anode of Lithium Ion Batteries with Enhanced Reversible Capacity and Cyclic Performance

IO N The rapid development of modern electronics packed with highly integrated circuits generates severe electromagnetic radiation, which leads to harmful effects on highly sensitive precision electronic equipment as well as the living environment for human beings. Great effort has been made for the development of high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. In addition to high EMI shielding performance, being lightweight and fl exible are two other important technical requirements for effective and practical EMI shielding applications especially in areas of aircraft, aerospace, automobiles, and fast-growing next-generation fl exible electronics such as portable electronics and wearable devices. [ 1 ] Recently, electrically conductive polymer composites have received much attention for EMI shielding applications, [ 1–12 ] because of their light weight, resistance to corrosion, fl exibility, good processability, and low cost compared to the conventional metal-based materials. The EMI shielding effectiveness of the polymer composites depends critically on the intrinsic electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, magnetic permeability, aspect ratio, and content of conductive fi llers. [ 1–12 ] It is believed that high electrical conductivity and connectivity of the conductive fi llers can improve EMI shielding performance. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]

Lightweight and Flexible Graphene Foam Composites for High‐Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

We developed a hydrogen arc discharge exfoliation method for the synthesis of graphene sheets (GSs) with excellent electrical conductivity and good thermal stability from graphite oxide (GO), in combination with solution-phase dispersion and centrifugation techniques. It was found that efficient exfoliation and considerable deoxygenation of GO, and defect elimination and healing of exfoliated graphite can be simultaneously achieved during the hydrogen arc discharge exfoliation process. The GSs obtained by hydrogen arc discharge exfoliation exhibit a high electrical conductivity of210 3 S/cm and high thermal stability with oxidization resistance temperature of 601 °C, which are much better than those prepared by argon arc discharge exfoliation (2 10 2 S/cm, 525 °C) and by conventional thermal exfoliation (80 S/cm, 507 °C) with the same startingGO.Theseresultsdemonstratethatthishydrogenarcdischargeexfoliationmethodisagoodapproachfor the preparation of GSs with a good quality.

Synthesis of Graphene Sheets with High Electrical Conductivity and Good Thermal Stability by Hydrogen Arc Discharge Exfoliation

There is growing interest in thin, lightweight, and flexible energy storage devices to meet the special needs for next-generation, high-performance, flexible electronics. Here we report a thin, lightweight, and flexible lithium ion battery made from graphene foam, a three-dimensional, flexible, and conductive interconnected network, as a current collector, loaded with Li4Ti5O12 and LiFePO4, for use as anode and cathode, respectively. No metal current collectors, conducting additives, or binders are used. The excellent electrical conductivity and pore structure of the hybrid electrodes enable rapid electron and ion transport. For example, the Li4Ti5O12/graphene foam electrode shows a high rate up to 200 C, equivalent to a full discharge in 18 s. Using them, we demonstrate a thin, lightweight, and flexible full lithium ion battery with a high-rate performance and energy density that can be repeatedly bent to a radius of 5 mm without structural failure and performance loss.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/109/43/17360.full.pdf

Zongping Chen

Papers

Three-dimensional flexible and conductive interconnected graphene networks grown by chemical vapour deposition

Graphene Anchored with Co 3 O 4 Nanoparticles as Anode of Lithium Ion Batteries with Enhanced Reversible Capacity and Cyclic Performance

Lightweight and Flexible Graphene Foam Composites for High‐Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Synthesis of Graphene Sheets with High Electrical Conductivity and Good Thermal Stability by Hydrogen Arc Discharge Exfoliation

Flexible graphene-based lithium ion batteries with ultrafast charge and discharge rates