title: Low-density three-dimensional foam using self-reinforced hybrid two-dimensional atomic layers.
abstract: Low-density nanostructured foams are often limited in applications due to their low mechanical and thermal stabilities. Here we report an approach of building the structural units of three-dimensional (3D) foams using hybrid two-dimensional (2D) atomic layers made of stacked graphene oxide layers reinforced with conformal hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) platelets. The ultra-low density (1/400 times density of graphite) 3D porous structures are scalably synthesized using solution processing method. A layered 3D foam structure forms due to presence of h-BN and significant improvements in the mechanical properties are observed for the hybrid foam structures, over a range of temperatures, compared with pristine graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide foams. It is found that domains of h-BN layers on the graphene oxide framework help to reinforce the 2D structural units, providing the observed improvement in mechanical integrity of the 3D foam structure.
authors: 1] Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA [2].
authors: Soumya
authors: S
authors: Vinod
authors: 1] Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA [2] Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India [3].
authors: Chandra Sekhar
authors: CS
authors: Tiwary
authors: 1] Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA [2] Instituto de Física 'Gleb Wataghin', Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Unicamp, CP 6165, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Pedro Alves
authors: PA
authors: da Silva Autreto
authors: Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Taha-Tijerina
authors: Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA.
authors: Sehmus
authors: S
authors: Ozden
authors: Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA.
authors: Alin Cristian
authors: AC
authors: Chipara
authors: Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Vajtai
authors: Instituto de Física 'Gleb Wataghin', Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Unicamp, CP 6165, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Douglas S
authors: DS
authors: Galvao
authors: CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi 630 006, India.
authors: Tharangattu N
authors: TN
authors: Narayanan
authors: Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Texas 77005, USA.
authors: Pulickel M
authors: PM
authors: Ajayan