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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Synthesis Of Mn3o4-Encapsulated Graphene Sheet Nanocomposites Via A Facile, Fast Microwave Hydrothermal Method And Their Supercapacitive Behaviour, Li Li, Kuok Hau Seng, Zhixin Chen, Hua-Kun Liu, Ivan P. Nevirkovets, Zaiping Guo Dec 2012

Synthesis Of Mn3o4-Encapsulated Graphene Sheet Nanocomposites Via A Facile, Fast Microwave Hydrothermal Method And Their Supercapacitive Behaviour, Li Li, Kuok Hau Seng, Zhixin Chen, Hua-Kun Liu, Ivan P. Nevirkovets, Zaiping Guo

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Well-crystallized Mn3O4-anchored reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized via a facile, effective, energy-saving, and scalable microwave hydrothermal technique for potential application as supercapacitor material. Integrating these nanostructures resulted in a strong synergistic effect between the two materials, consequently leading to a hybrid composite with higher specific capacitance compared to the bare Mn3O4 nanoparticles. The results from different sorts of characterization indicate that the Mn3O4 particles were deposited and anchored on graphene sheets. The capacitance value of the rGO(31.6%)–Mn3O4 nanocomposite reached 153 F/g, much higher than that of the bare Mn3O4 (87 F/g) at a scan rate of …


Nanoscale Contacts Between Semiconducting Nanowires And Metallic Graphenes, Seongmin Kim, David B. Janes, Sung-Yool Choi, Sanghyun Ju Jul 2012

Nanoscale Contacts Between Semiconducting Nanowires And Metallic Graphenes, Seongmin Kim, David B. Janes, Sung-Yool Choi, Sanghyun Ju

Birck and NCN Publications

Metal–semiconductor (M–S) junctions are important components in many semiconductor devices, and there is growing interest in realizing high quality M–S contacts that are optically transparent. In this paper, we present our investigations into the characteristics of M–S junction in a semiconducting ZnO nanowire that was directly grown on a multilayer graphene film (MGF). The synthesized nanowires were fabricated into two-terminal devices with MGF as one contact and Al as the other contact. By comparison with devices employing Al contacts at both ends, the nanowire resistivity and specific contact resistivity of the MGF–nanowire contact can be extracted. The extracted specific contact …


Heterogeneous Graphene Nanoribbon-Cmos Multi-State Volatile Random Access Memory Fabric, Santosh Khasanvis Jan 2012

Heterogeneous Graphene Nanoribbon-Cmos Multi-State Volatile Random Access Memory Fabric, Santosh Khasanvis

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

CMOS SRAM area scaling is slowing down due to several challenges faced by transistors at nanoscale such as increased leakage. This calls for new concepts and technologies to overcome CMOS scaling limitations. In this thesis, we propose a multi-state memory to store multiple bits in a single cell, enabled by graphene and graphene nanoribbon crossbar devices (xGNR). This could provide a new dimension for scaling. We present a new multi-state volatile memory fabric called Graphene Nanoribbon Tunneling Random Access Memory (GNTRAM) featuring a heterogeneous integration between graphene and CMOS. A latch based on the xGNR devices is used as the …


Room-Temperature Strong Terahertz Photon Mixing In Graphene, Sultan Shareef, Yee Sin Ang, Chao Zhang Jan 2012

Room-Temperature Strong Terahertz Photon Mixing In Graphene, Sultan Shareef, Yee Sin Ang, Chao Zhang

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

We demonstrate that single layer graphene exhibits a strong nonlinear photon-mixing effect in the terahertz frequency regime. Up to room temperature, the third-order nonlinear current in graphene grows rapidly with increasing temperature. The third-order nonlinear current can be as strong as the linear current under a moderate electric field strength of 104 V∕cm. Because of the unique Dirac behavior of the graphene quasi-particles, low Fermi level and electron fillings optimizes the optical nonlinearity. Under a strong-field condition, the strong-field-induced Dirac fermion population redistribution and nonequilibrium carrier heating effects further amplify the optical nonlinearity of graphene. Our results suggest that doped …


How To Achieve Maximum Charge Carrier Loading On Heteroatom-Substituted Graphene Nanoribbon Edges: Density Functional Theory Study, Ting Liao, Chenghua Sun, Ziqi Sun, Aijun Du, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova, Sean C. Smith Jan 2012

How To Achieve Maximum Charge Carrier Loading On Heteroatom-Substituted Graphene Nanoribbon Edges: Density Functional Theory Study, Ting Liao, Chenghua Sun, Ziqi Sun, Aijun Du, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova, Sean C. Smith

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The practical number of charge carriers loaded is crucial to the evaluation of the capacity performance of carbon-based electrodes in service, and cannot be easily addressed experimentally. In this paper, we report a density functional theory study of charge carrier adsorption onto zigzag edge-shaped graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs), both pristine and incorporating edge substitution with boron, nitrogen or oxygen atoms. All edge substitutions are found to be energetically favorable, especially in oxidized environments. The maximal loading of protons onto the substituted ZGNR edges obeys a rule of [8-n- 1], where n is the number of valence electrons of the edge-site atom …


The Effect Of Reduced Graphene Oxide Addition On The Superconductivity Of Mgb2, K S. B De Silva, S Gambhir, Xiaolin Wang, X Xu, W X. Li, David L. Officer, D Wexler, G G. Wallace, S. X. Dou Jan 2012

The Effect Of Reduced Graphene Oxide Addition On The Superconductivity Of Mgb2, K S. B De Silva, S Gambhir, Xiaolin Wang, X Xu, W X. Li, David L. Officer, D Wexler, G G. Wallace, S. X. Dou

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and highly reduced chemically converted graphene (ICCO) samples were prepared under different processing condition! and were doped into MgBz by a diffusion process at 800 °C for 10 houn. It was demonstrated that a small addition rCCG can significantly improve the supcn;onducting properties of MgBz. Doping of M8B2 with 1 mol% of rCCG resulted in a Ie of 5.45 X lOS A cm-2 at 20 K in self-fields, which il nearly 32% improvement over that of the undopcd sample. This is a significant improvement as most carbon sources adversely affect the Ie performance: at the zero …


Terahertz Photon Mixing Effect In Gapped Graphene, Yee Sin Ang, Shareef Sultan, Asya Tawfiq, Juncheng Cao, Chao Zhang Jan 2012

Terahertz Photon Mixing Effect In Gapped Graphene, Yee Sin Ang, Shareef Sultan, Asya Tawfiq, Juncheng Cao, Chao Zhang

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

We theoretically calculate the terahertz waves mixing effect in doped graphene with a finite bandgap. The temperature dependence of the nonlinear intraband optical response at bandgap opening of few tens of meVare investigated. When the external electric field is weak, a moderate level of bandgap opening is found to slightly enhance the nonlinear optical response. The optical response is however significantly altered under strong-field condition. The strong-field nonlinear optical conductivity exhibits two distinct response ‘hot spot’: (i) low temperature with large bandgap and (ii) high temperature with small bandgap. The electric field required for the nonlinear response to dominate over …


Carbon Nanotube/Graphene Nanocomposite As Efficient Counter Electrodes In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Josef Velten, Attila J. Mozer, Dan Li, David Officer, G G. Wallace, Ray Baughman, A Zakhidov Jan 2012

Carbon Nanotube/Graphene Nanocomposite As Efficient Counter Electrodes In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Josef Velten, Attila J. Mozer, Dan Li, David Officer, G G. Wallace, Ray Baughman, A Zakhidov

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

We demonstrated the replacement of the Pt catalyst normally used in the counter electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by a nanocomposite of dry spun carbon multi-walled nanotube (MWNT) sheets with graphene flakes (Gr-F). The effectiveness of this counter electrode on the reduction of the triiodide in the iodide/triiodide redox (I−/I− 3 ) redox reaction was studied in parallel with the use of the dry spun carbon MWNT sheets alone and graphene flakes used independent of each other. This nanocomposite deposited onto fluorinated tin-oxide-coated glass showed improved catalytic behavior and power conversion efficiency (7.55%) beyond the use of the …


A Significant Improvement In The Superconducting Properties Of Mgb2 By Co-Doping With Graphene And Nano-Sic, K S B De Silva, X Xu, Xiaolin Wang, D Wexler, D Attard, F Xiang, S. X. Dou Jan 2012

A Significant Improvement In The Superconducting Properties Of Mgb2 By Co-Doping With Graphene And Nano-Sic, K S B De Silva, X Xu, Xiaolin Wang, D Wexler, D Attard, F Xiang, S. X. Dou

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The effects of graphene (G) and nanosilicon carbide (SiC) co-doping on the superconducting properties of MgB2 were studied using bulk samples. SiC remains one of the best dopants which can significantly improve the high field performance, while graphene is emerging as a new dopant for MgB2, which can improve the zero field critical current density (Jc). The superconducting properties characterized by Jc, the intergrain connectivity, and the critical fields were significantly improved by the use of both SiC and graphene as dopants.


Globular Reduced Graphene Oxide-Metal Oxide Structures For Energy Storage Applications, Alfred Chidembo, Seyed Hamed Aboutalebi, Konstantin Konstantinov, Maryam Salari, Brad R. Winton, Sima Aminorroaya-Yamini, Ivan Nevirkovets, Hua-Kun Liu Jan 2012

Globular Reduced Graphene Oxide-Metal Oxide Structures For Energy Storage Applications, Alfred Chidembo, Seyed Hamed Aboutalebi, Konstantin Konstantinov, Maryam Salari, Brad R. Winton, Sima Aminorroaya-Yamini, Ivan Nevirkovets, Hua-Kun Liu

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

In this work, we employed an in situ spray pyrolysis approach to fabricate metal oxide-graphene composites with highly porous morphologies.The materials exhibited unique globular structures comprising metal oxide nanoparticles embedded between graphene sheets with high capacitance.


Facile Synthesis Of Graphene-Molybdenum Dioxide And Its Lithium Storage Properties, Kuok Hau Seng, Guo Dong Du, Li Li, Zhixin Chen, Hua-Kun Liu, Zaiping Guo Jan 2012

Facile Synthesis Of Graphene-Molybdenum Dioxide And Its Lithium Storage Properties, Kuok Hau Seng, Guo Dong Du, Li Li, Zhixin Chen, Hua-Kun Liu, Zaiping Guo

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Graphene–molybdenum dioxide composites in several ratios have been prepared through a facile synthesis method. Depending on the ratio, the as synthesized composites have either 2-dimensional graphene sheets with MoO2 particles anchored to them or a clustered agglomerate morphology. The composites have been characterised using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron diffraction to confirm the monoclinic MoO2 phase that is present. Lithium storage properties of the as-synthesised samples were tested in a coin-type half cell assembly to determine the relationship between the ratio and the electrochemical performance. The sample with highest amount of MoO2 (78 wt%) displayed the most promising lithium …


Retro Reflection Of Electrons At The Interface Of Bilayer Graphene And Superconductor, Yee Sin Ang, Zhongshui Ma, C Zhang Jan 2012

Retro Reflection Of Electrons At The Interface Of Bilayer Graphene And Superconductor, Yee Sin Ang, Zhongshui Ma, C Zhang

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Electron reflection at an interface is a fundamental quantum transport phenomenon. The most famous electron reflection is the electronRhole Andreev reflection (AR) at a metal/superconductor interface. While AR can be either specular or retro-type, electronRelectron reflection is limited to only the specular type. Here we show that electrons can undergo retro-reflection in bilayer graphene (BLG). The underlying mechanism for this previously unknown process is the anisotropic constant energy band contour of BLG. The electron group velocity is fully reversed upon reflection, causing electrons to be retro-reflected. Utilizing a BLG/superconductor junction (BLG/S) as a model structure, we show that the unique …


Graphene Wrapped Lifepo4/C Composites As Cathode Materials For Li-Ion Batteries With Enhanced Rate Capability, Yi Shi, Shulei Chou, Jia-Zhao Wang, David Wexler, Hui-Jun Li, Hua-Kun Liu, Yuping Wu Jan 2012

Graphene Wrapped Lifepo4/C Composites As Cathode Materials For Li-Ion Batteries With Enhanced Rate Capability, Yi Shi, Shulei Chou, Jia-Zhao Wang, David Wexler, Hui-Jun Li, Hua-Kun Liu, Yuping Wu

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

To reduce the reaction time, electrical energy consumption, and cost, LiFePO4/C/graphene has been synthesized by a rapid, one-pot, microwave-assisted hydrothermal method within 15 min at a temperature of 200 °C, followed by sintering at 600 °C for 2 h under a H2/Ar (5:95, v/v) atmosphere. The microstructure and morphology of the LiFePO4/C/graphene products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The carbon coated LiFePO4/C nanoparticles, around 200 nm in size, are thoroughly wrapped by crumpled micrometer-size graphene sheets. In this kind …


Terahertz Photon Mixing Effect In Graphene And Topological Insulator, Yee Sin Ang, Qinjun Chen, Xiaolin Wang, R A. Lewis, Chao Zhang Jan 2012

Terahertz Photon Mixing Effect In Graphene And Topological Insulator, Yee Sin Ang, Qinjun Chen, Xiaolin Wang, R A. Lewis, Chao Zhang

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

We theoretically investigate the nonlinear terahertz photon-mixing effect in graphene and topological insulator. We show that the nonlinear intraband optical absorption in both materials dominate over the linear response under a very moderate external electric field strength. The nonlinear response is thermally enhanced and the optical nonlinearity is well-preserved even in high temperature regime.


Nonlinear Optical Response Of Graphene Superlattice In Terahertz Frequency Regime, Yee Sin Ang, Chao Zhang Jan 2012

Nonlinear Optical Response Of Graphene Superlattice In Terahertz Frequency Regime, Yee Sin Ang, Chao Zhang

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

We investigate the nonlinear optical response of a Kronig-Penney type graphene superlattice in which the Fermi velocity of the massless Dirac quasiparticle anisotropically depends on the direction of propagation. Such velocity anisotropy results in enhanced nonlinear optical response in terahertz frequency regime.


Dependence Of Magnetoelectric Properties On Sintering Temperature For Nano-Sic-Doped Mgb2/Fe Wires Made By Combined In Situ/Ex Situ Process, Wenxian Li, Rong Zeng, Jiazhao Wang, Y Li, S. X. Dou Jan 2012

Dependence Of Magnetoelectric Properties On Sintering Temperature For Nano-Sic-Doped Mgb2/Fe Wires Made By Combined In Situ/Ex Situ Process, Wenxian Li, Rong Zeng, Jiazhao Wang, Y Li, S. X. Dou

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Very fine nano-SiC particles (nm) were doped into a MgB2 superconductor. The influence of self-field supercurrent on the high-field performance of the nano-SiC-doped MgB2/Fe wires is discussed based on comparison of the critical current densities of the in situ processed nano-SiCdoped MgB2 wires and those of the nano-SiC-doped MgB2/Fe wires processed by the combination of in situ/ex situ methods.


Charge Carrier Exchange At Chemically Modified Graphene Edges: A Density Functional Theory Study, Ting Liao, Chenghua Sun, Aijun Du, Ziqi Sun, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova, Sean Smith Jan 2012

Charge Carrier Exchange At Chemically Modified Graphene Edges: A Density Functional Theory Study, Ting Liao, Chenghua Sun, Aijun Du, Ziqi Sun, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova, Sean Smith

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Heteroatom doping on the edge of graphene may serve as an effective way to tune chemical activity of carbon-based electrodes with respect to charge carrier transfer in an aqueous environment. In a step towards developing mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon, we explore herein mechanisms of proton transfer from aqueous solution to pristine and doped graphene edges utilizing density functional theory. Atomic B-, N-, and O- doped edges as well as the native graphene are examined, displaying varying proton affinities and effective interaction ranges with the H3O+ charge carrier. Our study shows that the doped edges characterized by more dispersive orbitals, …


Rapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis Of Mn3o4-Graphene Nanocomposite And Its Lithium Storage Properties, Li Li, Zaiping Guo, Aijun Du, Hua-Kun Liu Jan 2012

Rapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis Of Mn3o4-Graphene Nanocomposite And Its Lithium Storage Properties, Li Li, Zaiping Guo, Aijun Du, Hua-Kun Liu

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

A nanocomposite of Mn3O4 wrapped in graphene sheets (GSs) was successfully synthesized via a facile, effective, energy-saving, and scalable microwave hydrothermal technique. The morphology and microstructures of the fabricated GS–Mn3O4 nanocomposite were characterized using various techniques. The results indicate that the particle size of the Mn3O4 particles in the nanocomposite markedly decreased to nearly 20 nm, significantly smaller than that for the bare Mn3O4. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated a high specific capacity of more than 900 mA h g−1 at 40 mA g−1, and excellent cycling stability with no capacity decay can be observed up to 50 cycles. All of these …