Van-der-Waals-forces-modulated graphene-P-phenyl-graphene carbon allotropes

Huanxin Li (), Haotian Chen, Boyi Pang, Jincan Zhang, Bingcheng Luo (), S. Ravi P. Silva, Yi-Chi Wang, Siyu Zhao, Paul R. Shearing, James B. Robinson () and Kostya S. Novoselov ()
Additional contact information
Huanxin Li: University of Oxford
Haotian Chen: University of Oxford
Boyi Pang: University College London
Jincan Zhang: University of Cambridge
Bingcheng Luo: University of Cambridge
S. Ravi P. Silva: University of Surrey
Yi-Chi Wang: Tsinghua University
Siyu Zhao: Quad One
Paul R. Shearing: Quad One
James B. Robinson: University College London
Kostya S. Novoselov: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Graphene has received much attention due to its monoatomic, unique two-dimensional structure, which results in remarkable mechanical, physical, and electrical properties. However, synthesizing high-quality graphene-based composites with high conductivity and ionic mobility remains challenging. Here, we report an allotrope to the nanocarbon family, Graphene-P-phenyl-Graphene, synthesized by inserting π-π-conjugated p-phenyls between graphene layers and connecting them via C–C σ bonds. Graphene-P-phenyl-Graphene is thermally and dynamically stable, as verified by density functional theory and molecular dynamics, and can be produced at kilogram scale. The p-phenyl bridges swell the layer spacing from ~0.34 to ~0.56 nm, reducing van der Waals forces and enhancing electron delocalization. Electrons in these separated graphene layers benefit from low mass and efficient 3D screening of charge scattering, resulting in high Hall mobility (10,000–13,000 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹) in freestanding films. The expanded spacing also enables decoupling of layer electrons and rapid ion storage and transport—even for large ions. For example, potassium-ion batteries using Graphene-P-phenyl-Graphene exhibit high reversible capacity, long-term stability, and high charge-discharge rates. Graphene-P-phenyl-Graphene holds promise for large-scale, portable, high-performance electronics with energy storage capabilities.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-64971-1 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64971-1

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64971-1

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().