Prof. Xinliang Feng, Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research

Graphene and Carbon Materials: Controlled Chemical Synthesis, Assemblies, Electronics and Energy Storage

Organic Division Seminar Series

Graphene, as the mother of all other graphitic carbons, has triggered intensive research work in the last few years since this one-atom-thick hexagonal carbon sheet possesses unique 2D morphology and many intriguing physical properties. Nevertheless, the future research on graphene and carbon materials calls for the efficient chemical synthesis and processing.

Bottom-up approach allows for the synthesis of well-defined graphenes and carbon materials with tailor-made properties at the molecular level. This strategy offers a fine control of graphene size, shape and component at defined position. Further, feasible processibility and tunable self-assembly properties make the molecular graphenes promising for organic electronics and for building up carbonaceous materials with unique architectures and functions. Top-down fabrication of graphenes and carbons relies on smart processing of materials at the different thickness level, both in solution and on a surface. Rational assembly of graphene sheets offers the fabrication of carbon and related composite materials with different complexities ranging from 1D, 2D to 3D architectures. Prominent applications have been achieved with using these graphene and carbon materials as well as their carbon-metal nanocomposite across the fields of organic electronics, transparent electrode, catalysis, sensing, supercapacitors and batteries.

For more information contact Prof. Laren Tolbert (404-894-4093).