Author Archives: Daniele Pontiroli

Tracking the Hydrogen Motion in Defective Graphene

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Bulk defective graphene produced by thermal exfoliation of graphite oxide was treated under H2 and investigated with X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, neutron spectroscopy, and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance. Graphene defects appear effective in dissociating H2 molecule and in promoting H … Continue reading

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Decoration of graphene with nickel nanoparticles: study of the interaction with hydrogen

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Graphene obtained from thermal exfoliation of graphite oxide was chemically functionalized with nickel nanoparticles (NPs) without exposing the system to oxidizing agents. Its structural, physical and chemical properties have been studied by means of TEM, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies, … Continue reading

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Ionic conductivity in the Mg intercalated fullerene polymer Mg2C60

We report the identification of the new intercalated fullerene polymer Mg2C60. Mg intercalation was obtained either by solid state reaction between C60 and Mg, or by thermal decomposition of the metallorganic precursor Mg–Anthracene–(THF)3. High resolution powder synchrotron and neutron diffraction … Continue reading

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Reversible hydrogen absorption in sodium intercalated fullerenes

The hydrogen absorption of sodium intercalated fullerenes was determined and compared to pure fullerenes C60. Up to 3.5 mass% hydrogen can reversibly be absorbed in NaxC60 at 200 C and a hydrogen pressure of 200 bar. The absorbed amount of … Continue reading

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Muons Probe Strong Hydrogen Interactions with Defective Graphene

We present the first muon spectroscopy investigation of graphene, focused on chemically produced, gram-scale samples, appropriate to the large muon penetration depth. We have observed an evident muon spin precession, usually the fingerprint of magnetic order, but here demonstrated to … Continue reading

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NMR Study of the Mott Transitions to Superconductivity in the Two Cs3C60 Phases

We report a NMR and magnetometry study on the expanded intercalated fulleride Cs3C60 in both its A15 and face centered cubic structures. NMR allowed us to evidence that both exhibit a first-order Mott transition to a superconducting state, occurring at … Continue reading

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Fullerenium Salts: A New Class of C60-Based Compounds

We report on the preparation and characterization of a fullerenium salt in the solid state, where the fullerene is in the 2+ oxidized state. To succeed in this long-standing challenge, we exploit the oxidizing power of one of the strongest … Continue reading

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Superionic Conductivity in the Li4C60 Fulleride Polymer

We report on the extraordinary superionic conductivity in the fulleride polymer Li4C60 , a crystalline material with no disorder. 7Li , NMR, and dc/ac conductivity show uncorrelated ionic hopping across small energy barriers (ΔEa∼200  meV ) and an ionic conductivity of … Continue reading

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