Issue 2, 2017

Tuneable fluidics within graphene nanogaps for water purification and energy storage

Abstract

Precise control of liquid–solid interactions within sub-micrometer spaces is critical to maximize the active surface areas in porous materials, yet is challenging because of the limited liquid penetration. Here we discover an effective, dry-climate natural plant-inspired approach to guide water into sub-micrometer graphene microwells (Sub-μGWs) and to tune the transition from the hydrophobic to superhydrophilic states. Dry plasma texturing of Sub-μGWs by graphene ‘nano-flaps’ which adjust the tilt and density upon controlled liquid evaporation leads to controlled and stable sub-micrometer-scale surface modification and variable wettability in a wide range. This effect helps capture Au nanoparticles on the Sub-μGW surfaces as a proof-of-principle water purification platform and tune the charge-storage capacity and frequency response of Sub-μGW-based supercapacitors without altering the Sub-μGW backbones. The outcomes may be extended into diverse materials and solutions thus opening new opportunities for next-generation devices, systems and applications.

Graphical abstract: Tuneable fluidics within graphene nanogaps for water purification and energy storage

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
13 Sep 2016
Accepted
04 Jan 2017
First published
04 Jan 2017

Nanoscale Horiz., 2017,2, 89-98

Tuneable fluidics within graphene nanogaps for water purification and energy storage

Z. Bo, Y. Tian, Z. J. Han, S. Wu, S. Zhang, J. Yan, K. Cen and K. (. Ostrikov, Nanoscale Horiz., 2017, 2, 89 DOI: 10.1039/C6NH00167J

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