title: Synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures from polyurethane sponge for bioimaging and catalysis.
abstract: A facile and environmentally friendly method was developed for the fabrication of N-doped carbon nanomaterials by hydrothermal treatment using polyurethane (PU) sponge as a carbon source. We have demonstrated that the hydrothermal decomposition of PU sponge involves top-down hydrolysis and bottom-up polymerization processes for the synthesis of N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs). Fluorescence spectroscopy and cytotoxicity studies indicated that these highly-soluble N-CDs show excellent photoluminescence properties and low cytotoxicity, and can be used as good probes for cellular imaging. Additionally, the N-doped hollow carbon nanostructures can be designed using a simple template method. The prepared N-doped double-shelled hollow carbon nanotubes exhibited excellent ORR electrocatalytic activity and superior durability. Indeed, our method described here can provide an efficient way to synthesize N-doped carbon-based materials for a broad range of applications.
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. wangxun@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jingchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D017895:Manganese Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008853:Microscopy; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D017895:Manganese Compounds; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010087:Oxides; D011140:Polyurethanes; D010984:Platinum; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; C016552:manganese dioxide