abstract: Thiol functionalization is one potentially useful way to tailor physical and chemical properties of graphene oxides (GOs) and reduced graphene oxides (RGOs). Despite the ubiquitous presence of thiol functional groups in diverse chemical systems, efficient thiol functionalization has been challenging for GOs and RGOs, or for carbonaceous materials in general. In this work, thionation of GOs has been achieved in high yield through two new methods that also allow concomitant chemical reduction/thermal reduction of GOs; a solid-gas metathetical reaction method with boron sulfides (BxSy) gases and a solvothermal reaction method employing phosphorus decasulfide (P4S10). The thionation products, called "mercapto reduced graphene oxides (m-RGOs)", were characterized by employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron probe analysis, scanning electron microscopy, (scanning) transmission electron microscopy, nano secondary ion mass spectrometry, Ellman assay and atomic force microscopy. The excellent dispersibility of m-RGOs in various solvents including alcohols has allowed fabrication of thin films of m-RGOs. Deposition of m-RGOs on gold substrates was achieved through solution deposition and the m-RGOs were homogeneously distributed on gold surface shown by atomic force microscopy. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of m-RGOs were obtained by transferring their Langmuir films, formed by simple drop casting of m-RGOs dispersion on water surface, onto various substrates including gold, glass and indium tin oxide. The m-RGO LB films showed low sheet resistances down to about 500 kΩ/sq at 92% optical transparency. The successful results make m-RGOs promising for applications in transparent conductive coatings, biosensing, etc. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemistry 2013

Polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique consistsing of core-shell structure have emerged as potential drug delivery systems along with their applications in micro-reactors, cosmetics, vaccines and antimicrobial coatings. Various ligands and stimuli responsive entities can be incorporated into the core and shell of the capsules for targeted delivery and/or controlled release applications. Though multilayer capsules have been studied extensively as delivery systems, their utility for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs and multiple drugs have not been explored in detail so far. Application of traditional polyelectrolyte capsules has several limitations, which renders them inapplicable for encapsulation of multiple drugs, hydrophobic drugs and also for releasing drugs on demand without addition of the external photothermal agents such as metal nanoparticles into the shells of the capsules. Thus, in this thesis, an attempt has been made to develop novel multifunctional multilayered capsules to overcome the above mentioned limitations. We have formulated two novel methods to functionalize the core with cyclodextrin molecules and the shell of the capsules with two-dimensional material, graphene oxide (GO). The properties such as high surface area along with π bonds, broad NIR-absorption, superior photothermal conversion and antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide has been explored and it has been demonstrated that 2-D graphene oxide is unique compared to the regular polyelectrolytes. By functionalizing the shell of capsules with GO as one of the layer material, a simple and efficient way for encapsulating multiple drugs into core and shell of the capsules is achieved by utilizing the large surface area and amphiphilic nature of GO. Based on the unique optical absorption and photothermal conversion properties of GO, we have demonstrated a facile route for near-infrared (NIR)-laser triggered release with low laser power. In the second part, functionalization of the hollow core of the capsules has been functionalized using cylodextrin (CD)-incorporated CaCO3 porous sacrificial templates, where both CD-CaCO3 and CD-modified capsules are used as high efficient carriers for hydrophobic drugs. In the third part, synergistic antimicrobial therapy was achieved using composite graphene oxide/polymer LbL films by combining the intrinsic antimicrobial activity and photothermal conversion ability of graphene oxide and the results depicted superior antimicrobial activity towards E. coli. These composite films also can be used as efficient antimicrobial coatings on biomedical devices or implants. The thesis has been divided into five chapters based on the individual works. In Chapter 1, a brief review on the history of LbL self-assembly, mechanism of self-assembly along with factors affecting the process have been discussed. Followed by a brief discussion about the fabrication of multilayered hollow capsules (core-shell structure), their applications in drug delivery and fabrication of multifunctional multilayered capsules through core and shell have been discussed. Finally, recent developments in LbL self-assembly and multilayered hollow capsules using carbon based materials (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide) and their biomedical applications have been presented. Chapter 2 deals with the study on fabricating multifunctional multilayered capsules for facile encapsulation of multiple drugs into the capsules, which is achieved by functionalizing the capsules with graphene oxide (GO) as one of the layer materials. The GO composite capsules exhibited unique permeability properties compared to traditional multilayered capsules made of two polyelectrolytes. Multiple drugs could be simultaneously encapsulated in the capsules in a simple and effective manner. These capsules were found to exhibit a “core-shell” loading property for encapsulation of dual drugs into the core and shell of the capsules respectively. In addition, the graphene oxide composite capsules showed excellent biocompatibility towards MCF-7 cells. This study is the first one that demonstrates the potential of hybrid polyelectrolyte capsules without the use of micelles or polymer-drug conjugates for multi-drug encapsulation. Chapter 3 deals with the development of a facile route for near-infrared (NIR)-light triggered release of encapsulated drugs from the multilayered capsules via incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) into layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled capsules without addition of any external additives such as metal nanoparticles (NPs) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the shells of the capsules. Till now, there is no report on light-responsive drug delivery system by utilizing the NIR-optical absorption properties of GO. Here, graphene oxide (GO) plays a dual role, serving as a structural component of LbL capsules as well as strong NIR-light absorbing agent, which efficiently converts absorbed light into heat. Upon NIR-laser irradiation, the microcapsules were opened in “point-wise fashion” due to local heating caused by laser irradiation. The rupturing mechanism of the capsules has been clearly demonstrated using confocal fluorescence microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The light-triggering ability of these capsules has been applied successfully to release the encapsulated anticancer drug, doxorubicin. Chapter 4 deals with simple and versatile simple routes for encapsulation of model hydrophobic drug. Encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs in pharmaceutical industries is always a big challenge due to limited number of available drug carrier systems and poor aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs. Here, by combining the special properties of cyclodextrins (CDs) with biodegradable inorganic calcium carbonate microparticles, the hybrid CD-CaCO3 mesoporous microparticles have been prepared for the first time. These CD-CaCO3 microparticles were utilized as sacrificial templates to prepare CDs-modified LbL capsules. We have demonstrated that both the hybrid CD-CaCO3 microparticles and CDs-modified capsules are potential carriers for encapsulation of model hydrophobic drugs (self-fluorescent coumarine and nile red dyes) with high loading efficiency using supramolecular host-guest interaction between entrapped CDs and hydrophobic dye molecules. Compared with other inorganic drug carrier systems (mesoporous silica), CaCO3 porous particles have better biocompatibility, biodegradability and cost-effective and without use of any organic solvents. Both these hybrid CD-CaCO3 microparticles and CDs-modified capsules can be good candidates for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs without involving extreme chemical conditions for fabrication. Chapter 5 deals with development of facile synergistic method for killing pathogenic bacteria by combining the intrinsic antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide (GO) and unique photothermal conversion property of GO into a single material. We fabricated composite LbL films of graphene oxide (GO) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) films. Antimicrobial activity of these GO composite films has been studied using Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells by varying number of deposited layers on glass slides (20 to 80 layers) and results suggest that by increasing the number of deposited layers, antimicrobial activity is also increased gradually. Based on the unique optical properties of GO, photothermal therapy have been carried out for killing of E. coli using GO composite films by varying number of deposited layers (20 to 80 layers) by irradiation of NIR-pulse laser at 1064 nm wavelength (Nd:YAG, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz). The photothermal results revealed the enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to GO composite films alone without NIR-laser irradiation. The synergistic photothermal killing ability along with intrinsic antimicrobial activity of GO films results in much faster killing compared to films alone.

The goal of this thesis work is to investigate the possibility to grow graphene by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) on copper foil with acetylene as a precursor and varigon (5\% H$_2$ in Ar) as a carrier gas. The possibility of nitrogen doping by ammonia treatment during the growth process is also investigated. The possibility of graphene transfer, with the use of Poly(Methyl Metacrylate) (PMMA), from the copper onto another target substrate, Flourine doped Tin Oxide (FTO), is also explored. The main technique of characterization of the grown and transfered graphene is Raman spectroscopy, a great tool for investigating the number of graphene layers and amount of defects. Other characterization methods used are Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate morphology and elemental composition, respectively. The result of this thesis study is that graphene growth is entirely possible with acetylene as a precursor, as shown by the Raman spectroscopy, XPS and SEM. The grown graphene has a high quality with few layers and a low number of defects. The ammonia treatment, however, doesn't seem to have an immediate effect on the graphene growth. The XPS data indicates that there are no nitrogen doping in the graphene, though there might be a correlation between the ammonia and the number of layers, but further investigations has to be made. Transfer is also proven possible with the method developed. However, improvements to the transfer method can be done since there are both larger tares, caused by the transfer onto the FTO, as well as microscopic tares, possibly caused by thermal expansion of the PMMA.

This thesis discusses methods for the comparatively mild covalent functionalization of graphene. Several graphene models were investigated: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-graphene on SiO2/Si substrate, graphite foil, graphite flakes, kish graphite and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The PAHs were viewed as graphene edge analogs with the following molecules representing different edge motifs: pyrene, perylene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[e]pyrene, triphenylene, acenapthylene, and anthracene. Ozone was used in combination with different solvents to functionalize PAHs, graphite, and CVD-graphene on SiO2/Si. Ozonation in water or methanol resulted in trapping of the carbonyl oxide intermediate that was formed in the reaction, producing a variety of functional groups. Ozonation in hydrogen peroxide solution with sonication promoted radical formation, possibly resulting in edge-oxidation of graphite. The regioselectivity for addition reactions (ozonolysis) and electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions with graphene edges is discussed. To achieve functionalization of the basal plane of graphite or graphene, white light irradiation was used in combination with several transfer hydrogenation reagents. Formic acid treatment under irradiation resulted in the expected hydrogenation, whereas iso-propanol treatment resulted in iso-propanol attachment to the graphene. The developed methods provide opportunities for graphene functionalization without the need for metal based reagents or harsh conditions.

Les dispersions de nanocomposite à base aqueuse sont produites pour des applications diverses telles que les adhésifs, les revêtements et plus récemment les encres. Ce projet consiste à réaliser des encres conductrices nanocomposites comprenant des particules de polymère (latex) à basse température de transition vitreuse, Tg, pour la formation de films à température ambiante, et des plaquettes de graphène, en raison de leurs excellentes propriétés conductrices. Les charges conductrices, appelées multi-feuillets de graphène, sont réalisées par broyage en voie aqueuse de graphite (1-10 µm) stabilisées par différents tensio-actifs et/ou stabilisants. Cette méthode sans solvant et à bas coût permet de produire des suspensions de multi-feuillets (1-10 feuillets) de graphène. Les particules de polymères utilisées sont synthétisées par polymérisation en émulsion de monomères acrylates. Dans un second temps, des mélanges physiques de suspensions de graphène et de latex acrylates ont permis d’obtenir des encres nanocomposites. L’ajout de graphène permet l’obtention d’un seuil de percolation à bas taux de charge et une nette amélioration des propriétés électriques et du renfort. Le diamètre des billes de latex a une influence importante sur ces propriétés et a également été étudié. Afin d’augmenter la stabilité des suspensions et les interactions graphène/latex, des nanocomposites structurés ont été synthétisés par polymérisation in situ en émulsion, miniemulsion ou dispersion en présence de graphène. Les excellentes propriétés électriques associées à leur flexibilité font de ces matériaux des candidats adaptés pour la réalisation d’encres conductrices pour impression sur textile. / Printed electronics, particularly on flexible and textile substrates, raised a strong interest during the past decades. This project presents a procedure that provides a complete and consistent candidate for conductive inks based on a graphene/polymer nanocomposite material. It consists in the synthesis of conductive inks nanocomposites comprising polymer particles (latex) with low glass transition temperature, Tg, and graphene platelets, for the conductive properties. The conductive particles, named Nanosize Multilayered Graphene (NMG), are prepared by wet grinding delamination of micro-graphite suspensions stabilized by various surfactants and/or polymeric stabilizers. This solvent-free procedure allows the formation of NMG suspensions with low thickness (1-10 sheets). Polymer particles are synthetized by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization with acrylates monomers.Physical blending of latex particles and NMG platelets are performed to obtain conductive nanocomposites inks. Adding NMG induce a low percolation threshold and a sharp increase of the electrical and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Moreover, the polymer particles diameters have an impact on these properties.To increase the formation of a well-defined cellular microstructure, the nanocomposites are also synthetized by in situ polymerization in presence of NMG platelets, using emulsion, miniemulsion or dispersion polymerization. The excellent electrical properties of these nanocomposites associated to their flexibility make these materials suitable candidates for the production of conductive inks for textile printing applications.

Synthesis and functionalization of large-area graphene and its structural, electrical and electrochemical properties has been investigated. First, the graphene films, grown by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD), contain three to five atomic layers of graphene, as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the graphene film is treated with CF4 reactive-ion plasma to dope fluorine ions into graphene lattice as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Electrochemical characterization reveals that the catalytic activity of graphene for iodine reduction enhanced with increasing plasma treatment time, which is attributed to increase in catalytic sites of graphene for charge transfer. The fluorinated graphene is characterized as a counter-electrode (CE) in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) which shows ~ 2.56% photon to electron conversion efficiency with ~11 mAcm−2 current density. Second, the large scale graphene film is covalently functionalized with HNO3 for high efficiency electro-catalytic electrode for DSSC. The XPS and UPS confirm the covalent attachment of C-OH, C(O)OH and NO3- moieties with carbon atoms through sp2-sp3 hybridization and Fermi level shift of graphene occurs under different doping concentrations, respectively. Finally, CoS-implanted graphene (G-CoS) film was prepared using CVD followed by SILAR method. The G-CoS electro-catalytic electrodes are characterized in a DSSC CE and is found to be highly electro-catalytic towards iodine reduction with low charge transfer resistance (Rct ~5.05 Wcm2) and high exchange current density (J0~2.50 mAcm-2). The improved performance compared to the pristine graphene is attributed to the increased number of active catalytic sites of G-CoS and highly conducting path of graphene. We also studied the synthesis and characterization of graphene-carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid film consisting of graphene supported by vertical CNTs on a Si substrate. The hybrid film is inverted and transferred to flexible substrates for its application in flexible electronics, demonstrating a distinguishable variation of electrical conductivity for both tension and compression. Furthermore, both turn-on field and total emission current was found to depend strongly on the bending radius of the film and were found to vary in ranges of 0.8 – 3.1 V/μm and 4.2 – 0.4 mA, respectively.

The direct growth of graphene by scalable methods on magnetic insulators is important for industrial development of graphene-based spintronic devices, and a route towards substrate-induced spin polarization in graphene without spin injection. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy electron diffraction LEED, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) demonstrate the growth of Co3O4(111) and CoO(111) to thicknesses greater than 100 Å on Ru(0001) surfaces, by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The results obtained show that the formation of the different cobalt oxide phases is O2 partial pressure dependent under same temperature and vacuum conditions and that the films are stoichiometric. Electrical I-V measurement of the Co3O4(111) show characteristic hysteresis indicative of resistive switching and thus suitable for advanced device applications. In addition, the growth of Co0.5Fe0.5O(111) was also achieved by MBE and these films were observed to be OH-stabilized. C MBE yielded azimuthally oriented few layer graphene on the OH-terminated CoO(111), Co0.5Fe0.5O(111) and Co3O4(111). AES confirms the growth of (111)-ordered sp2 C layers. EELS data demonstrate significant graphene-to-oxide charge transfer with Raman spectroscopy showing the formation of a graphene-oxide buffer layer, in excellent agreement with previous theoretical predictions. XPS data show the formation of C-O covalent bonding between the oxide layer and the first monolayer (ML) of C. LEED data reveal that the graphene overlayers on all substrates exhibit C3V. The reduction of graphene symmetry to C3V – correlated with C-O bond formation – enables spin-orbit coupling in graphene. Consequences may include a significant band gap and room temperature spin Hall effect – important for spintronic device applications. The results suggest a general pattern of graphene/graphene oxide growth and symmetry lowering for graphene formation on the (111) surfaces of rocksalt-structured oxides.

There is a movement in the electronic industry toward building electronic devices with dimensions smaller than is currently possible. Atomically thin 2D material, such as graphene, bilayer graphene, hBN and MoS2 are great candidate for this goal and they have a potential set of novel electronic properties compare to their bulk counterparts due to the exhibition of quantum confinement effects. To this goal, we have investigated the electric field screening of multilayer 2D materials due to the presence of impurity charge in the interface and vertical electric fifield from back gate. Our result shows a dramatic difference of screening behavior in high and low charging limit, which depends on the number of layers as well. We also have an extensive study on quantum tunneling effect in graphene and bilayer graphene heterojunctions. The peculiar electronic properties of graphene lead to an unusual scattering effect of electron in graphene n-p junction. We implement the cohesive tunneling effect to explain the nonlinear electron transport in ultrashort channel graphene devices. This nonlinear behavior could make them tremendously useful for ultra-fast electronic applications.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第22709号 / エネ博第406号 / 新制||エネ||78(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー基礎科学専攻 / (主査)教授 坂口 浩司, 教授 松田 一成, 教授 野平 俊之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

This diploma thesis is focused on calculation of both structure and electronic properties of the graphene after the adsorption of atomic and molecular oxygen and urea using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). The influence of van der Waals interactions on the structure and adsorption energy is studied, as well as influence of the thermal corrections, the charge density spatial distribution and the electronic doping of graphene after the adsorption of the adsorbant on the graphene.