Two-Coordinate Boron Cation Doping for Stable Graphene Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conductivity of graphene or graphite improves with doping, but the effect is difficult to sustain over time, and existing methods for manufacturing graphene are inefficient and costly in terms of productivity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the contact of sp2 carbon (graphene or graphite) with a two-coordinate boron cation salt, where the boron cation acts as a strong oxidant, forming holes in the sp2 carbon and improving conductivity, while the counter anion enhances stability, and the process includes forming layers, mixing in solvents, or mixing powders to achieve high conductivity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If graphene or graphite is doped with a one-electron oxidant to improve conductivity, then conductivity is improved, but the doping effect cannot be sustained over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a two-coordinate boron cation as an intermediary substance that mediates between the sp2 carbon material and the doping process. This boron cation acts as a stable dopant that can be incorporated into the carbon structure, providing sustained conductivity improvement without the transient effects of conventional one-electron oxidants. The boron cation serves as a stable intermediate that maintains the doping effect over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the dopant from conventional one-electron oxidants to two-coordinate boron cations. This parameter change in the dopant's chemical structure and properties enables stable, long-lasting conductivity improvement. The specific coordination geometry and electronic structure of the two-coordinate boron cation provide sustained doping effects that conventional oxidants cannot achieve.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods are used to manufacture graphene by peeling graphite or synthesizing graphene oxide, then graphene can be obtained, but productivity is low and manufacturing cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes two-coordinate boron cations as a key component that enables direct doping of sp2 carbon materials. This extraction of the essential doping agent allows for a simplified manufacturing process that bypasses complex graphene oxidation and reduction steps, thereby improving productivity and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method results in a highly conductive sp2 carbon-containing composition with improved stability over time, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing productivity, suitable for applications in transparent conductive films, capacitors, and other electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the boron cation acts as a strong oxidant, forming holes in the sp2 carbon and improving conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an sp2 carbon-containing composition that is highly conductive and that excels in the stability of conductivity over time, a method of manufacturing the sp.sup.2 carbon-containing composition, and a method of peeling graphite to obtain a graphene-containing composition. Further provided are a graphene quantum dot-containing composition and a method of manufacturing the graphene quantum dot-containing composition that provides an improvement in the productivity and the manufacturing cost. A method of manufacturing an sp2 carbon-containing composition according to the present disclosure includes a contact step of bringing a two-coordinate boron cation salt into contact with an sp.sup.2 carbon. Preferable examples of the two-coordinate boron cation include one expressed by the following formula (1). R1—B—R2 Formula (1) [In the formula, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a compound selected from the group consisting of a phenyl group, a mesityl group, 1,5-dimethylphenyl group, 1,3,5-triisopropylphenyl group, 1,5-diisopropylphenyl group, 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group, and 1,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group.]