- Email: [email protected]
Carbon-based solids and materials
CARBON
4 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 5 3 9 8 –5 3 9 9
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/carbon
Book review
Carbon-based solids and materials Pierre Delhaes, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, 2011, 640 pages; ISBN 978-1-84821-200-8, $200.00. Carbon materials have gained a momentum with the development of nanotechnology as the driving force of modern technology. They are used in all fields of engineering and many recent scientific discoveries have been enabled by the availability of zero-, one-, two- and three-dimensional carbon structures. Therefore, a comprehensive monograph covering all carbon allotropes and polymorphs is certainly of interest to a broad scientific community and is must read for anyone working in the carbon field. This book is an updated translation from three volumes of the French ‘Solids et mate´riaux carbone´s’ published in 2009. A variety of carbon materials are introduced in three parts and 15 chapters. Not surprisingly, the book is more than 600 pages long and requires much time to read and digest all of the material presented. The book describes a great variety of carbon materials, their properties, analysis and applications using an integral approach. Thus, nanomaterials are not discussed separately from the bulk ones, as sp3-bonded carbon is not separated from the sp2-bonded carbon. Rather, the materials are introduced based on carbon chemistry and properties, which are discussed for a large variety of carbon materials. Details exceeding the direct scope of the book are given in separate windows, which can extend to several pages. This seems to be unnecessary to us because a reference to a comprehensive book or a review article would be sufficient. On the other hand, this broadens the coverage as not only carbon materials are discussed, but an introduction given to, for instance, the origin of thermal conductivity or optical properties. The other side of the coin is that the presentation is sometimes confusing, and less experienced readers, such as students, may be lost in the detailed physical and chemical explanations that make it difficult to catch the key message about carbon materials. Most of the chapters of the book are up-to-date and discuss novel findings as well as common knowledge. E.g., graphene is covered along with molded, pyrolytic and exfoliated graphite. A very large number of important references are cited, being a good starting point for further literature research on the topics discussed. However, the references don’t cover the work published after 2009. In Part 1 ‘Carbon Phases, Precursors and Parent Compounds’, a well written historical overview of the carbon
materials’ world, introduces the reader to the carbon history, alchemy and chemistry. Later on, crystalline carbons are discussed, thermodynamic considerations and phase transitions emphasized and synthesis process is described. On this basis, non-crystalline carbons, their syntheses and stability are introduced and distinguished, e.g., by ternary phase diagrams (H, sp2, sp3). Part one closes with the chapter titled ‘From Aromatic Precursors to the Graphene Plane’ which is dedicated to the synthesis of highly graphitic carbon from different precursors, the exfoliation of graphite, and discusses graphene. Part 2 ‘Physical Properties of Solid Carbons’ explains and summarizes properties of carbon materials and gives details on physical phenomena. This chapter covers a variety of structural, thermal, electronic, magnetic, optical and vibrational properties. The most common analytical methods, such as Raman, electron energy loss, X-ray photoelectron and IR spectroscopies are discussed in this segment. Part 3 is titled ‘Carbon Materials and Uses’ and starts with two chapters on surface phenomena and surface reactivity, showing the importance of the rich surface chemistry of carbon, while prior chapters focus on bulk properties. Porous and fibrous carbons are reviewed subsequently. The last book chapter ‘Use of Carbon Materials’ gives examples on a broad variety of applications of carbon materials in 30 pages. Those include tribological, mechanical, biomedical and other applications. All in all, the book delivers a great review on the world of carbon materials, being up to date, fundamental, and complete. The integral approach and the chosen outline might seem unusual in the beginning, but this differentiates this book from other publications on the subject. A different presentation can give new useful insights and provide inspiration, thus complementing the existing library. As any publication, this book could be further improved. The translation from French to English is probably to blame for some awkward words such as ‘‘nanodiamant’’ or ‘‘graphitable carbon’’. However, the book is fairly easy to read, in general. The newest carbon structures, such as graphene, are missing from plots comparing properties of various carbons. Some historical facts may need correction. For example, Derjagin and Spitsyn patented nanodiamond synthesis by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in 1956, long before Angus. Probably the most significant omission is that detonation nanodiamond has not received any coverage in the
CARBON
4 9 ( 20 1 1 ) 5 3 9 8–53 9 9
book. Diamond particles smaller than 10 nm, which are produced in ton quantities by detonating energetic materials, have remarkable optical and mechanical properties in combination with biocompatibility, high specific surface area, and tunable surface chemistry. They are the least toxic among carbon nanoparticles and their properties make them attractive for drug delivery and cellular imaging. However, they are hardly mentioned in the book. The formation of carbon onions by e-beam irradiation is described, but the scalable methods of onion synthesis, such as annealing of nanodiamond powder, are not, making the reader to believe that onion-like carbon is not available in any significant quantity. Despite those omissions, this book probably provides the most comprehensive coverage of carbon materials to date and can be recommended to graduate students and researchers working on development, characterization or selection of carbon materials for engineering applications.
5399
CARBON Editor Yury Gogotsi A.J. Drexel Nanotechnology Institute, Department of Materials Science Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail address: [email protected] Bastian J.M. Etzold Lehrstuhl fu¨r Chemische Reaktionstechnik, Universita¨t Erlangen-Nu¨rnberg, Egerlandstr. 3, Erlangen 91058, Germany E-mail address: [email protected]
0008-6223/$ - see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2011.08.006
4 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 5 3 9 8 –5 3 9 9
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/carbon
Book review
Carbon-based solids and materials Pierre Delhaes, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, 2011, 640 pages; ISBN 978-1-84821-200-8, $200.00. Carbon materials have gained a momentum with the development of nanotechnology as the driving force of modern technology. They are used in all fields of engineering and many recent scientific discoveries have been enabled by the availability of zero-, one-, two- and three-dimensional carbon structures. Therefore, a comprehensive monograph covering all carbon allotropes and polymorphs is certainly of interest to a broad scientific community and is must read for anyone working in the carbon field. This book is an updated translation from three volumes of the French ‘Solids et mate´riaux carbone´s’ published in 2009. A variety of carbon materials are introduced in three parts and 15 chapters. Not surprisingly, the book is more than 600 pages long and requires much time to read and digest all of the material presented. The book describes a great variety of carbon materials, their properties, analysis and applications using an integral approach. Thus, nanomaterials are not discussed separately from the bulk ones, as sp3-bonded carbon is not separated from the sp2-bonded carbon. Rather, the materials are introduced based on carbon chemistry and properties, which are discussed for a large variety of carbon materials. Details exceeding the direct scope of the book are given in separate windows, which can extend to several pages. This seems to be unnecessary to us because a reference to a comprehensive book or a review article would be sufficient. On the other hand, this broadens the coverage as not only carbon materials are discussed, but an introduction given to, for instance, the origin of thermal conductivity or optical properties. The other side of the coin is that the presentation is sometimes confusing, and less experienced readers, such as students, may be lost in the detailed physical and chemical explanations that make it difficult to catch the key message about carbon materials. Most of the chapters of the book are up-to-date and discuss novel findings as well as common knowledge. E.g., graphene is covered along with molded, pyrolytic and exfoliated graphite. A very large number of important references are cited, being a good starting point for further literature research on the topics discussed. However, the references don’t cover the work published after 2009. In Part 1 ‘Carbon Phases, Precursors and Parent Compounds’, a well written historical overview of the carbon
materials’ world, introduces the reader to the carbon history, alchemy and chemistry. Later on, crystalline carbons are discussed, thermodynamic considerations and phase transitions emphasized and synthesis process is described. On this basis, non-crystalline carbons, their syntheses and stability are introduced and distinguished, e.g., by ternary phase diagrams (H, sp2, sp3). Part one closes with the chapter titled ‘From Aromatic Precursors to the Graphene Plane’ which is dedicated to the synthesis of highly graphitic carbon from different precursors, the exfoliation of graphite, and discusses graphene. Part 2 ‘Physical Properties of Solid Carbons’ explains and summarizes properties of carbon materials and gives details on physical phenomena. This chapter covers a variety of structural, thermal, electronic, magnetic, optical and vibrational properties. The most common analytical methods, such as Raman, electron energy loss, X-ray photoelectron and IR spectroscopies are discussed in this segment. Part 3 is titled ‘Carbon Materials and Uses’ and starts with two chapters on surface phenomena and surface reactivity, showing the importance of the rich surface chemistry of carbon, while prior chapters focus on bulk properties. Porous and fibrous carbons are reviewed subsequently. The last book chapter ‘Use of Carbon Materials’ gives examples on a broad variety of applications of carbon materials in 30 pages. Those include tribological, mechanical, biomedical and other applications. All in all, the book delivers a great review on the world of carbon materials, being up to date, fundamental, and complete. The integral approach and the chosen outline might seem unusual in the beginning, but this differentiates this book from other publications on the subject. A different presentation can give new useful insights and provide inspiration, thus complementing the existing library. As any publication, this book could be further improved. The translation from French to English is probably to blame for some awkward words such as ‘‘nanodiamant’’ or ‘‘graphitable carbon’’. However, the book is fairly easy to read, in general. The newest carbon structures, such as graphene, are missing from plots comparing properties of various carbons. Some historical facts may need correction. For example, Derjagin and Spitsyn patented nanodiamond synthesis by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in 1956, long before Angus. Probably the most significant omission is that detonation nanodiamond has not received any coverage in the
CARBON
4 9 ( 20 1 1 ) 5 3 9 8–53 9 9
book. Diamond particles smaller than 10 nm, which are produced in ton quantities by detonating energetic materials, have remarkable optical and mechanical properties in combination with biocompatibility, high specific surface area, and tunable surface chemistry. They are the least toxic among carbon nanoparticles and their properties make them attractive for drug delivery and cellular imaging. However, they are hardly mentioned in the book. The formation of carbon onions by e-beam irradiation is described, but the scalable methods of onion synthesis, such as annealing of nanodiamond powder, are not, making the reader to believe that onion-like carbon is not available in any significant quantity. Despite those omissions, this book probably provides the most comprehensive coverage of carbon materials to date and can be recommended to graduate students and researchers working on development, characterization or selection of carbon materials for engineering applications.
5399
CARBON Editor Yury Gogotsi A.J. Drexel Nanotechnology Institute, Department of Materials Science Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail address: [email protected] Bastian J.M. Etzold Lehrstuhl fu¨r Chemische Reaktionstechnik, Universita¨t Erlangen-Nu¨rnberg, Egerlandstr. 3, Erlangen 91058, Germany E-mail address: [email protected]
0008-6223/$ - see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2011.08.006