M Curri1,2
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche1,University of Bari2
M Curri1,2
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche1,University of Bari2
Graphene (G) is an extraordinary material for advanced devices, due to its superior electrical conductivity, (electro)catalytic activity and surface chemical reactivity. The last enables the implementation of non-covalent routes for its decoration with inorganic nanostructures, thus resulting in hybrid nanocomposites exhibiting original and ingenious combination of the properties of both G and inorganic components. Nanoparticles (NPs) prepared via colloidal chemistry approaches possess original size- and shape-dependent properties and are particularly suited for decorating G [1,2], thanks to the possibility to engineer their surface chemistry. Different types of colloidal nanomaterials, as NIR emitting PbS quantum dots, oxides as TiO<sub>2</sub> and plasmonic Au NPs, have been used to decorate G, [1-3] and the nanocomposite materials have been thoroughly investigated, from a morphological, spectroscopic, electrical and (photo)electrochemical points of view. Distinct decoration approaches have been designed, both for immobilizing pre-synthesized inorganic NPs onto the G based structures, and for performing <i>in situ</i> synthesis. In both strategies, suitable anchoring molecules are key element to enable a close interaction between G and NPs and thus direct the chemical and electronic properties of the resulting hybrids. In all the investigated systems, a controlled and uniform NP coverage has been obtained. The photoactivity and photoelectrochemical behavior of the hybrid nanocomposites demonstrate that this class of materials holds a great promise for photo-conversion, sensing and life science applications [4-6]. Selected examples of nanocomposites will be described and their possible integration in devices presented.<br/><br/><i>Acknowledgements: </i>The research has been supported by the Bilateral Italy-USA "Projects of major importance" founded by Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) (Prot. nr. MAE00568722022-04-0), and the Italian PON Ricerca e Innovazione (2014-2020) ECOTEC (ARS 01_00951) and BEST-4U (ARS01_00519) projects.<br/><br/><i>References</i><br/>[1] C. Ingrosso, M. Corricelli, A. Disha, E. Fanizza, G. V. Bianco, N. Depalo, A. Panniello, A. Agostiano, M. Striccoli, M. L. Curri (2019) Carbon, 152, 777-787.<br/>[2] C. Ingrosso, G. V. Bianco, M. Corricelli, R. Comparelli, D. Altamura, A. Agostiano, M. Striccoli, M. Losurdo, M. L. Curri, G. Bruno (2015) ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 7 (7), 4151–4159; C Ingrosso, V Valenzano, M Corricelli, A Testolin, V Pifferi, GV Bianco, R Comparelli, N Depalo, E Fanizza, M Striccoli, A Agostiano, I Palchetti, L Falciola, ML Curri (2021) Carbon, 182, 57-69.<br/>[3] C. Ingrosso, M. Corricelli, F. Bettazzi, E. Konstantinidou, G. V. Bianco, N. Depalo, M. Striccoli, A. Agostiano, M. L. Curri, I. Palchetti (2019) J. Mater. Chem. B., 7, 768-777.<br/>[4] F. Bettazzi, S. Laschi, D. Voccia, C. Gellini, G. Pietraperzia, L. Falciola, V. Pifferi, A. Testolin, C. Ingrosso, T. Placido, R. Comparelli, M. L. Curri, I. Palchetti (2018) Electrochimica Acta, 276, 389-398.<br/>[5] C. Ingrosso, G. V. Bianco, V. Pifferi, P. Guffanti, F. Petronella, R. Comparelli, A. Agostiano, M. Striccoli, I. I Palchetti, L Falciola, ML Curri, G Bruno (2017) J. Mater. Chem. A, 5, 9307.