NANOCOMP has focused on preparing and characterizing hybrid metal-carbon nanostructures (NS@TCN) and developing methods to understand and control the assembly of guest nanoswitches with redox and magnetic properties in host-nanocontainers. We've established a research methodology for controlling the assembly of these confined nanoswitches, including molecules, and developed successful protocols for transporting and encapsulating preformed nanoparticles, as well as forming them in situ into the host-carbon nanostructures. This has resulted in a library of NS@TCN with exploitable properties.
The project's outcomes spanned across 4 work packages, yielding notable advancements:
In WP1, structural, magnetic, and electrochemical characterization of NS within carbon nanostructures was conducted, involving synthesis, isolation, insertion of NS into carbon nanostructures, and subsequent characterization. Some breakthroughs in this project came from fundamental understanding of the functional properties of unconfined NS (Dalton Transactions 2018, DOI:10.1039/C8DT01269E; Journal of Materials Chemistry C 2023, DOI:10.1039/D3TC00099K .
WP2 focused on passive control, utilizing covalent bonds and van der Waals forces to assemble various NS systems into different carbon nanostructure interiors.
WP3 explored active control methods for leveraging the functional properties of NS, resulting in the development of high-performance energy storage electrodes, electrocatalyst materials, and electrical and thermal switches. Notable achievements include, among others:
(A) Sustainable electrocatalysis technology development for fuel cells and water splitting (Advanced Materials 2016, DOI: ; ChemSusChem 2021, DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202101236; Small Methods 2024, DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301805).
(B) Understanding the physicochemical properties of encapsulated nanoparticles (Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2017, DOI: 10.1039/C7TA03691D).
(C) Development of new synthetic methodologies for electrode degradation mitigation (Patent: EP23382707).
(D) Achievements in active control include, for example, the separation of catalytic nanoreactors from products mixtures in an efficient way by simply applying a magnetic field (Adv. Funct. Mater. 2018, DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201802869) or hyperthermia effects enhancement (Chemistry – A European Journal 2022, DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201861)
(E) Achievements in passive control include, for example, switching of electrocatalyst properties (Patent: P202030912) and enhancement of electrochemical reversibility (Patent: P202030929).
In WP4, various advancements were made, including the development of mem-capacitive/ristors films and the fabrication of porous 3D networks as electrodes for electrocatalysis and battery technologies (Additive Manufacturing 2023, DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2023.103518; Advanced Sustainable Systems 2023, DOI: 10.1002/adsu.202300607).
