Journal article
Scalable, inexpensive, one-pot, facile synthesis of crystalline two-dimensional birnessite flakes
Matter
Jun 2022
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) materials that is readily scalable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly is important from both scientific and industrial viewpoints. Currently, these 2D materials are synthesized either by selective etching of relatively expensive layered solids, viz. using a top-down approach, or by autoclaving metal salts/organic compounds. Herein, we describe a near-ambient, one-pot, inexpensive, scalable pathway to convert—through a bottom-up approach—5 different water-insoluble Mn-bearing precursors, viz. Mn3O4, Mn2O3, MnB, Mn5SiB2, and Mn2AlB2, into birnessite-based 2D flakes that, in some cases, are remarkably crystalline. The precursor powders are immersed in 25 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solutions at 50°C to 80°C for 2 to 4 days. The structures, compositions, oxidation states, and morphologies of the synthesized flakes are determined using a battery of characterization techniques. The synthesized 2D sheets demonstrate reversible O2 electrocatalysis with activities comparable with those of a commercial Pt/C catalyst.
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•Scalable, inexpensive, one-pot, facile synthesis of 2D birnessite flakes•Near-ambient conversion of water-insoluble, non-layered Mn-precursors•Resulting birnessite flakes are crystalline, with thicknesses around ≈2 ± 0.4 nm•Reversible O2 electrocatalysis with activities comparable with those of a Pt/C catalyst
Typically, materials that are atomically thick but extend over large areas are labeled two-dimensional (2D) materials, which are produced by exfoliating or etching layered bulk materials. The process can be slow and hazardous and can render the production of 2D materials in large quantities challenging and expensive. We developed a one-pot recipe of producing 2D sheets in bulk scale almost at room temperature, starting with inexpensive green precursors. The quality of sheets produced is as high as those prepared using high temperatures and pressures and/or hazardous chemicals. Our one-pot method is thus the simpler, scalable, cheaper, and safer approach.
Electrodes made with our materials could lead to better batteries for cell phones and transportation. The sheets are also biocompatible, which renders them good candidates for use in the biomedical field. This discovery is a true breakthrough in scaling up the production of nanomaterials and will have a direct and positive impact on society.
Two-dimensional materials are usually prepared using special chemicals and higher temperature processes and/or using hazardous chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid. Herein, we present a near-ambient condition (50° to 80°C), non-toxic, one-pot, cheap, scalable pathway to convert five different water-insoluble, non-layered Mn-containing precursors, viz. Mn3O4, Mn2O3, MnB, Mn5SiB2, and Mn2AlB2, into 2D crystalline birnessite flakes. The resulting flakes demonstrated electrocatalytic activities for reversible O2 reactions that are comparable with Pt/C electrodes.
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Details
- Title
- Scalable, inexpensive, one-pot, facile synthesis of crystalline two-dimensional birnessite flakes
- Creators
- Hussein O. Badr - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAKiana Montazeri - Drexel UniversityTarek El-Melegy - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAVarun Natu - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAMichael Carey - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USARamchandra Gawas - Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAPhu Phan - Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAQian Qian - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAChristopher Y. Li - Drexel UniversityUlf Wiedwald - Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, GermanyMichael Farle - Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, GermanyErika Colin-Ulloa - Department of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USALyubov V. Titova - Department of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USAMarc Currie - United States Naval Research Lab., Optical Sciences Division, Washington, DC, USAThierry Ouisse - Univ. Grenoble Alpes, LMGP, 38000 Grenoble, FranceMaxime Barbier - Univ. Grenoble Alpes, LMGP, 38000 Grenoble, FranceAndrei Rogalev - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, FranceFabrice Wilhelm - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, FranceMarcus Hans - Materials Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Kopernikusstr. 10, 52074 Aachen, GermanyJochen M. Schneider - Materials Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Kopernikusstr. 10, 52074 Aachen, GermanyChristopher Tandoc - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAYoung-Jie Hu - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAJoshua Snyder - Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USAMichel W. Barsoum - Department of Material Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Publication Details
- Matter
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials Science and Engineering; Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000829616700003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85131767428
- Other Identifier
- 991019168172904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary