Chemistry of two-dimensional pnictogens: emerging post-graphene materials for advanced applications

The layered allotropes of group 15 (P, As, Sb and Bi), also called two-dimensional (2D) pnictogens, have emerged as one of the most promising families of post-graphene 2D-materials. This is mainly due to the great variety of properties they exhibit, including layer-dependent bandgap, high charge-carrier mobility and current on/off ratios, strong spin-orbit coupling, wide allotropic diversity and pronounced chemical reactivity. These are key ingredients for exciting applications in (opto)electronics, heterogeneous catalysis, nanomedicine or energy storage and conversion, to name a few. However, there are still many challenges to overcome in order to fully understand their properties and brin…

Inside Back Cover: Rational Chemical Multifunctionalization of Graphene Interface Enhances Targeted Cancer Therapy (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 33/2020)

Innenrücktitelbild: Rational Chemical Multifunctionalization of Graphene Interface Enhances Targeted Cancer Therapy (Angew. Chem. 33/2020)

Carbon Nano-onions: Potassium Intercalation and Reductive Covalent Functionalization

Herein we report the synthesis of covalently functionalized carbon nano-onions (CNOs) via a reductive approach using unprecedented alkali-metal CNO intercalation compounds. For the first time, an in situ Raman study of the controlled intercalation process with potassium has been carried out revealing a Fano resonance in highly doped CNOs. The intercalation was further confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Moreover, the experimental results have been rationalized with DFT calculations. Covalently functionalized CNO derivatives were synthesized by using phenyl iodide and n-hexyl iodide as electrophiles in model nucleophilic substitution reactions. The functiona…

Rational Chemical Multifunctionalization of Graphene Interface Enhances Targeted Cancer Therapy

The synthesis of a drug delivery platform based on graphene was achieved through a step‐by‐step strategy of selective amine deprotection and functionalization. The multifunctional graphene platform, functionalized with indocyanine green, folic acid, and doxorubicin showed an enhanced anticancer activity. The remarkable targeting capacity for cancer cells in combination with the synergistic effect of drug release and photothermal properties prove the great advantage of a combined chemo‐ and phototherapy based on graphene against cancer, opening the doors to future therapeutic applications of this type of material.

A Straightforward Approach to Multifunctional Graphene

Graphene has been covalently functionalized through a one-pot reductive pathway using graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), in particular KC8 , with three different orthogonally protected derivatives of 4-aminobenzylamine. This novel multifunctional platform exhibits excellent bulk functionalization homogeneity (Hbulk ) and degree of addition while preserving the chemical functionalities of the organic addends through different protecting groups, namely: tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) and phthalimide (Pht). We have employed (temperature-dependent) statistical Raman spectroscopy (SRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), magic angle spinning solid state 13 C NMR …

Inside Back Cover: Rational Chemical Multifunctionalization of Graphene Interface Enhances Targeted Cancer Therapy

A multifunctional graphene conjugate was designed for cancer treatment, as reported by E. Miyako, A. Bianco, and co-workers in their Communication on page 14034. The image depicts the three regalia–crown, orb, and sword–representing triply chemically modified graphene as the strongest approach for cancer therapy. PNICTOCHEM 804110 (G.A.) PID2019-111742-GA-I00 CIDEGENT/2018/001 A multifunctional graphene conjugate was designed for cancer treatment, as reported by E. Miyako, A. Bianco, and co-workers in their Communication on page 14034. The image depicts the three regalia–crown, orb, and sword–representing triply chemically modified graphene as the strongest approach for cancer therapy. Es u…