Abstract: Graphene compositions used for neuronal repair and treatments, and, in particular neuronal scaffold-water soluble graphene for treatment of severed spinal cords and other neuronal repairs. The neuronal scaffold-water soluble graphene can be PEGylated GNR used in combination with a fusogen agent, such as PEG600.

Abstract: Anodes, cathodes, and separators for batteries (electrochemical energy storage devices). The anodes are Li metal anodes having lithiated carbon films (Li-MWCNT) (as dendrite suppressors and protective coatings for the Li metal anodes). The cathodes are sulfurized carbon cathodes. The separators are GNR-coated (or modified) separators. The invention includes each of these separately (as well as in combination both with each other and with other anodes, cathodes, and separators) and the methods of making each of these separately (and in combination). The invention further includes a battery that uses at least one of (a) the anode having a lithiated carbon film, (b) the sulfurized carbon cathode, and (c) the GNR-modified separator in the anode/cathode/separator arrangement. For instance, a full battery can include the sulfurized carbon cathode in combination with the Li-MWCNT anode or a full battery can include the sulfurized carbon cathode in combination with other anodes (such as a GCNT-Li anode).

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of producing a graphene hybrid material by exposing a graphene precursor material to a laser source to form a laser-induced graphene, where the laser-induced graphene is derived from the graphene precursor material. The methods of the present disclosure also include a step of associating a pseudocapacitive material (e.g., a conducting polymer or a metal oxide) with the laser-induced graphene to form the graphene hybrid material. The formed graphene hybrid material can become embedded with or separated from the graphene precursor material. The graphene hybrid materials can also be utilized as components of an electronic device, such as electrodes in a microsupercapacitor. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned graphene hybrid materials and electronic devices.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing CO2 from an environment by hydrating a porous material with water molecules to the extent thereby to define a preselected region of a plurality of hydrated pores and yet to the extent to allow the preselected region of a plurality of pores of the porous material to uptake gas molecules; positioning the porous material within a CO2 associated environment; and capturing CO2 by the hydrated porous material. In some embodiments, the pore volume of the hydrated porous material includes between 90% and 20% of the pre-hydrated pore volume to provide unhydrated pore volume within the porous material for enhanced selective uptake of CO2 in the CO2 associated environment. In some embodiments, the step of capturing includes forming CO2-hydrates within the pores of the porous material, where the CO2.nH2O ratio is n<4.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to electrodes that include a nickel-based material and at least one porous region with a plurality of nickel hydroxide moieties on a surface of the nickel-based material. The nickel-based material may be a nickel foil in the form of a film. The porous region of the electrode may be directly associated with the surface of the nickel-based material. The nickel hydroxide moieties may be in crystalline form and embedded with the porous region. The electrodes of the present disclosure may be a component of an energy storage device, such as a capacitor. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of fabricating the electrodes by anodizing a nickel-based material to form at least one porous region on a surface of the nickel-based material; and hydrothermally treating the porous region to form nickel hydroxide moieties associated with the porous region.

Abstract: Methods of controllably forming Bernal-stacked graphene layers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods comprise one or more of the following steps: (1) cleaning a surface of a catalyst; (2) annealing the surface of the catalyst; (3) applying a carbon source onto the cleaned and annealed surface of the catalyst in a reaction chamber; and (4) growing the Bernal-stacked graphene layers on the surface of the catalyst in the reaction chamber, where the number of formed Bernal-stacked graphene layers is controllable as a function of one or more growth parameters, such as a total pressure of the reaction chamber. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include steps of: (5) terminating the growing step; and (6) transferring the formed Bernal-stacked graphene layers from the surface of the catalyst onto a substrate.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid may include an oleaginous continuous phase, one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons, and at least one weighting agent. A method of performing wellbore operations may include circulating a wellbore fluid comprising a magnetic carbon nanoribbon composition and a base fluid through a wellbore. A method for electrical logging of a subterranean well may include placing into the subterranean well a logging medium, wherein the logging medium comprises a non-aqueous fluid and one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons, wherein the one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons are present in a concentration so as to permit the electrical logging of the subterranean well; and acquiring an electrical log of the subterranean well.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrodes that include a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and a metal associated with the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The vertically aligned carbon nanotubes may be in the form of a graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid material that includes a graphene film covalently linked to the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal may become reversibly associated with the carbon nanotubes in situ during electrode operation and lack any dendrites or mossy aggregates. The metal may be in the form of a non-dendritic or non-mossy coating on surfaces of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal may also be infiltrated within bundles of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments pertain to methods of forming said electrodes by applying a metal to a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making three-dimensional materials by combining a catalytic material with a precursor material and forming the three-dimensional material from the precursor material in the presence of the catalytic material. The three-dimensional material may be formed on surfaces and internal cavities of the catalytic material. The formed three-dimensional material includes a plurality of connected units that are derived from the precursor materials. The methods of the present disclosure may also include steps of separating catalytic materials from the formed three-dimensional materials and incorporating the three-dimensional materials as a component of an energy storage device (e.g., as an electrode in a capacitor). Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the formed three-dimensional materials.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making a carbon nanotube hybrid material by depositing a catalyst solution onto a carbon-based material, and growing carbon nanotubes on the carbon-based material such that the grown carbon nanotubes become covalently linked to the carbon-based material through carbon-carbon bonds. The catalyst solution includes a metal component (e.g., iron) and a buffer component (e.g., aluminum) that may be in the form of particles. The metal component of the particle may be in the form of a metallic core or metallic oxide core while the buffer component may be on a surface of the metal component in the form of metal or metal oxides. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the catalytic particles and carbon nanotube hybrid materials. The carbon nanotube hybrid materials of the present disclosure may be incorporated as electrodes (e.g., anodes or cathodes) in energy storage devices.

Abstract: A method for forming an electronic device may comprising the steps of selecting a substrate for an electronic device, and depositing a porous film utilizing physical vapor deposition, dry deposition, evaporative deposition, e-beam evaporation, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer deposition. In some embodiments, a deposition rate, temperature, pressure, or combination thereof may be carefully controlled during deposition to generate the porous film. Further, the depositing of the porous film occurs without the need for further processing. Additional steps may also include depositing an additional layer for the electronic device. In some case, the method may also include depositing and/or patterning a secondary electronic device on top or below the first electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to an electrode that includes: a porous carbon material; a metal (e.g., Li) associated with the porous carbon material; and a conductive additive (e.g., graphene nanoribbons) associated with the porous carbon material. The metal may be in the form of a non-dendritic or non-mossy coating on a surface of the porous carbon material. The electrodes may also be associated with a substrate, such as a copper foil. The electrodes may be utilized as anodes or cathodes in energy storage devices, such as lithium ion batteries. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments pertain to methods of making the electrodes by associating porous carbon materials with a conductive additive, a metal, and optionally a substrate. The electrode may then be incorporated as a component of an energy storage device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making graphene quantum dots from a carbon source by exposing the carbon source to a solution that contains an oxidant. The exposing results in the formation of the graphene quantum dots from the carbon source. The carbon sources can include coal, coke, biochar, asphalt, and combinations thereof. The oxidants can include an acid, such as nitric acid. In some embodiments, the oxidant consists essentially of a single acid, such as nitric acid. Various embodiments of the present disclosure also include steps of separating the formed graphene quantum dots from the oxidant by various methods, such as evaporation. In various embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include steps of enhancing a quantum yield of the graphene quantum dots, reducing the formed graphene quantum dots, and controlling the diameter of the formed graphene quantum dots.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to scalable methods of producing carbon quantum dots with desired bandgaps by the following steps: exposing a carbon source to an oxidant at a reaction temperature, where the exposing results in the formation of the carbon quantum dots; and selecting a desired size of the formed carbon quantum dots. In some embodiments, the selecting occurs by at least one of separating the desired size of the formed carbon quantum dots from other formed carbon quantum dots; selecting the reaction temperature that produces the desired size of the formed carbon quantum dots; and combinations of such steps. The desired size of carbon quantum dots can include a size range. The methods of the present disclosure can also include a step of purifying the formed carbon quantum dots prior to selecting a desired size.

Abstract: Methods of controllably forming Bernal-stacked graphene layers are disclosed. The methods comprise: (1) cleaning a surface of a catalyst; (2) annealing the surface of the catalyst; (3) applying a carbon source onto the cleaned and annealed surface of the catalyst in a reaction chamber; and (4) growing the Bernal-stacked graphene layers on the surface of the catalyst in the reaction chamber, where the number of formed Bernal-stacked graphene layers is controllable as a function of one or more growth parameters, such as a total pressure of the reaction chamber. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include steps of: (5) terminating the growing step; and (6) transferring the formed Bernal-stacked graphene layers from the surface of the catalyst onto a substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrodes that include a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and sulfur associated with the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The electrodes may also include a substrate (e.g., a porous nickel foam) and a carbon layer (e.g., graphene film). In some embodiments, the carbon layer may be positioned between the substrate and the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. In some embodiments, the electrodes may be in the form of a graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid material that includes: a graphene film; and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes covalently linked to the graphene film. In some embodiments, the electrodes of the present disclosure serve as cathodes or anodes in an energy storage device. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the electrodes and incorporating them into energy storage devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrodes that include a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and germanium associated with the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The electrodes may also include a substrate (e.g., copper foil) and a carbon layer (e.g., graphene film). In some embodiments, the carbon layer may be positioned between the substrate and the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. In some embodiments, the electrodes may be in the form of a graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid material that includes: a graphene film; and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes covalently linked to the graphene film. In some embodiments, the electrodes of the present disclosure serve as cathodes or anodes in an energy storage device. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the electrodes and incorporating them into energy storage devices.

Abstract: A porous memory device, such as a memory or a switch, may provide a top and bottom electrodes with a memory material layer (e.g. SiOx) positioned between the electrodes. The memory material layer may provide a nanoporous structure. In some embodiments, the nanoporous structure may be formed electrochemically, such as from anodic etching. Electroformation of a filament through the memory material layer may occur internally through the layer rather than at an edge at extremely low electro-forming voltages. The porous memory device may also provide multi-bit storage, high on-off ratios, long high-temperature lifetime, excellent cycling endurance, fast switching, and lower power consumption.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making graphene quantum dots from a carbon source (e.g., coal, coke, and combinations thereof) by exposing the carbon source to an oxidant. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of separating the formed graphene quantum dots from the oxidant. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of reducing the formed graphene quantum dots. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of enhancing a quantum yield of the graphene quantum dots. In further embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of controlling the diameter of the formed graphene quantum dots by selecting the carbon source. In some embodiments, the formed graphene quantum dots comprise oxygen addends or amorphous carbon addends on their edges.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming a reinforcing material by: (1) depositing a first material onto a catalyst surface; and (2) forming a second material on the catalyst surface, where the second material is derived from and associated with the first material. In some embodiments, the first material includes, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbons, boron nitride nanotubes, chalcogenide nanotubes, carbon onions, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the formed second material includes, without limitation, graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, chalcogenides, and combinations thereof. In additional embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of separating the formed reinforcing material from the catalyst surface, and transferring the separated reinforcing material onto a substrate without the use of polymers.