Multifunctional Electroactive Foams within Flow Catalytic Reactions

Nanostructured carbon networks assembled into 3D macroscopic foams are exploited as a versatile heterogeneous support framework for flow-based catalytic reactions. The network composition which includes the type of building block (graphene or carbon nanotubes), interconnectivity, pore structure and pore volume fraction all influence the overall macroscopic properties of the foam (i.e. surface area, electrothermal conductivity and mechanical profile) enabling support frameworks that can influence reaction dynamics and provides new avenues of research within heterogeneous catalysis.¹ Here, I explore two distinct functional features of graphene-based macroscopic foams and highlight a burgeoning area of research that encapsulates a wide range of applications from energy storage and generation to (electro)chemical catalysis and environmental remediation.²<br/>The first developments utilise graphene-based foams as electroactive sorbents for homogeneous molecular catalysts introducing a novel approach towards a controlled capture-release mechanism providing a modern alternative for a low-cost recyclable system addressing many of the challenges currently facing the pharmaceutical industry. As a consequence, we also reveal how this capture-release mechanism affords interesting opportunities for molecular functionalisation of carbon supports and a unique method of studying heterogeneous-homogeneous catalytic relationships.<br/>Secondly, applying a rapid heating approach within electrothermally conducting ruthenium precursor functionalised graphene-based foams we explore a powerful and generalised tool for the rapid formation of catalytically active metallic nanoparticles that can be regenerated upon reaction deactivation. Moreover, control over the network structure within catalyst functionalised foams provides an interesting approach to explore reaction dynamics to gain an understanding of the implications of fluidic turbulence within a support-induced micromixing environment. Structure-function relationships are examined utilising a templating approach within model graphene-based foams creating different lamellar networks and combining experimental X-ray and electron tomographic data with computational fluid dynamics simulations to quantify the impact of foam structures on reaction output with broad scope implications for various applications.<br/><br/>1.) J. Mannering, R. Stones, D. Xia, D. Sykes, N. Hondow, E. Flahaut, T. W. Chamberlain, R. Brydson, G. A. Cairns and R. Menzel,<b> Adv. Mater.</b>, 2021, 33, 2008307.<br/>2.) D. Xia, H. Li, J. Mannering, P. Huang, X. Zheng, A. Kulak, D. Baker, D. Iruretagoyena, R. Menzel, <b>Adv. Funct. Mater.</b>, 2020, 30, 2002788.