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Author Wahab, O.J.; Daviddi, E.; Xin, B.; Sun, P.Z.; Griffin, E.; Colburn, A.W.; Barry, D.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Peeters, F.M.; Geim, A.K.; Lozada-Hidalgo, M.; Unwin, P.R.
Title Proton transport through nanoscale corrugations in two-dimensional crystals Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2023 Publication Nature Abbreviated Journal
Volume 620 Issue 7975 Pages 1-17
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Defect-free graphene is impermeable to all atoms(1-5) and ions(6,7) under ambient conditions. Experiments that can resolve gas flows of a few atoms per hour through micrometre-sized membranes found that monocrystalline graphene is completely impermeable to helium, the smallest atom(2,5). Such membranes were also shown to be impermeable to all ions, including the smallest one, lithium(6,7). By contrast, graphene was reported to be highly permeable to protons, nuclei of hydrogen atoms(8,9). There is no consensus, however, either on the mechanism behind the unexpectedly high proton permeability(10-14) or even on whether it requires defects in graphene's crystal lattice(6,8,15-17). Here, using high-resolution scanning electrochemical cell microscopy, we show that, although proton permeation through mechanically exfoliated monolayers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride cannot be attributed to any structural defects, nanoscale non-flatness of two-dimensional membranes greatly facilitates proton transport. The spatial distribution of proton currents visualized by scanning electrochemical cell microscopy reveals marked inhomogeneities that are strongly correlated with nanoscale wrinkles and other features where strain is accumulated. Our results highlight nanoscale morphology as an important parameter enabling proton transport through two-dimensional crystals, mostly considered and modelled as flat, and indicate that strain and curvature can be used as additional degrees of freedom to control the proton permeability of two-dimensional materials. A study using high-resolution scanning electrochemical cell microscopy attributes proton permeation through defect-free graphene and hexagonal boron nitride to transport across areas of the structure that are under strain.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001153630400007 Publication Date 2023-08-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0028-0836; 1476-4687 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:203827 Serial 9078
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Author Cai, J.; Griffin, E.; Guarochico-Moreira, V.; Barry, D.; Xin, B.; Huang, S.; Geim, A.K.; Peeters, F.M.; Lozada-Hidalgo, M.
Title Photoaccelerated water dissociation across one-atom-thick electrodes Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2022 Publication Nano letters Abbreviated Journal Nano Lett
Volume 22 Issue 23 Pages 9566-9570
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Recent experiments demonstrated that interfacial water dissociation (H2O ⇆ H+ + OH-) could be accelerated exponentially by an electric field applied to graphene electrodes, a phenomenon related to the Wien effect. Here we report an order-of-magnitude acceleration of the interfacial water dissociation reaction under visible-light illumination. This process is accompanied by spatial separation of protons and hydroxide ions across one-atom-thick graphene and enhanced by strong interfacial electric fields. The found photoeffect is attributed to the combination of graphene's perfect selectivity with respect to protons, which prevents proton-hydroxide recombination, and to proton transport acceleration by the Wien effect, which occurs in synchrony with the water dissociation reaction. Our findings provide fundamental insights into ion dynamics near atomically thin proton-selective interfaces and suggest that strong interfacial fields can enhance and tune very fast ionic processes, which is of relevance for applications in photocatalysis and designing reconfigurable materials.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000892112200001 Publication Date 2022-11-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1530-6984 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 10.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 10.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192759 Serial 7330
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Author Cai, J.; Griffin, E.; Guarochico-Moreira, V.H.; Barry, D.; Xin, B.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Zhang, S.; Geim, A.K.; Peeters, F.M.; Lozada-Hidalgo, M.
Title Wien effect in interfacial water dissociation through proton-permeable graphene electrodes Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2022 Publication Nature communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 5776-5777
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Strong electric fields can accelerate molecular dissociation reactions. The phenomenon known as the Wien effect was previously observed using high-voltage electrolysis cells that produced fields of about 10(7) V m(-1), sufficient to accelerate the dissociation of weakly bound molecules (e.g., organics and weak electrolytes). The observation of the Wien effect for the common case of water dissociation (H2O reversible arrow H+ + OH-) has remained elusive. Here we study the dissociation of interfacial water adjacent to proton-permeable graphene electrodes and observe strong acceleration of the reaction in fields reaching above 10(8) V m(-1). The use of graphene electrodes allows measuring the proton currents arising exclusively from the dissociation of interfacial water, while the electric field driving the reaction is monitored through the carrier density induced in graphene by the same field. The observed exponential increase in proton currents is in quantitative agreement with Onsager's theory. Our results also demonstrate that graphene electrodes can be valuable for the investigation of various interfacial phenomena involving proton transport.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000862552600012 Publication Date 2022-10-01
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2041-1723 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 16.6 Times cited 3 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 16.6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191575 Serial 7228
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