Publications in peer-reviewed journals
1. K. Tang, Y. Li, Y. Chen, W. Cui, Z. Lin, Y. Zhang, L. Shi. Encapsulation and evolution of polyynes inside single-walled carbon nanotubes. Nanomaterials 2024, 14: 966. [0 citation]
This work shows the possibility to insert carbon chains inside chirality-selected carbon nanotubes. The interaction between carbon chains and certain nanotube will bring interesting electronic effect.
2. H. Zhang, Y. Chen, K. Tang, Z. Lin, X. Li, H. Zhang, Y Zhang, C. Wong, C. W. Leung, C. L. Mak, Y. Hu, W. Cui, K. Cao, L. Shi. Microwave heating as a universal method to transform confined molecules into armchair graphene nanoribbons. Nano Research 2023, 16, 10644-10651. [2 citations]
Microwave can be applied as a fast-heating approach to trigger the polymerization of organic molecules inside carbon nanotube reactor and synthesize new 1-D nanocarbon form.
3. X. Li, J. Huang, Y. Zhang, L. Shi. 1D nanoribbons of 2D materials. Progress in chemistry 2023, 35, 88-104. [0 citation]
A review about the recent progress to prepare 2D materials into 1D nanoribbon.
4. Y. Zhang. A review of arc-discharge method towards large-scale preparation of long linear carbon chains. Chinese Physics B, 2022, 31, 125201. [3 citations]
The work reviews the technique using arc-discharge method to prepare long linear carbon chain inside multi-walled carbon nanotube. The instrument, parameter and characterization are discussed in detail.
5. W. Cui, F. Simon, Y. Zhang, L. Shi, P. Ayala, T. Pichler. Ultra‐clean isotope engineered double‐walled carbon nanotubes as tailored hosts to trace the growth of carbyne. Advanced Functional Materials 2022, 32, 2206491. [3 citations]
Isotope-doped carbyne can be synthesized inside double-walled carbon nanotube by transforming isotopic fullerene at high temperature. The matter exchange between carbyne and carbon nanotube can be confirmed via Raman spectra.
6. V. Milotti, C. Berkmann, J. Laranjeira, W. Cui, K. Cao, Y. Zhang, U. Kaiser, K. Yanagi, M. Melle-Franco, L. Shi, T. Pichler, P. Ayala. Unravelling the complete Raman response of graphene nanoribbons discerning the signature of edge passivation. Small Methods 2022, 6, 2200110. [3 citations]
By choosing suitable precursor and precisely controlling heating process, graphene nanoribbons with certain width can be synthesized inside carbon nanotube. The initial units such as dimer or trimer can be characterized via Raman spectra.
7. Y. Zhang, K. Cao, T. Saito, H. Kataura, H. Kuzmany, T. Pichler, U. Kaiser, G. Yang, L. Shi, Carbon nanotube-dependent synthesis of armchair graphene nanoribbons. Nano Research 2022, 15, 1709-1714. [14 citations]
This work realizes the possibility of a controllable production of certain armchair graphene nanoribbons in large scale, which would benefit future applications as semiconductor with sub-nanometer in width.
8. Y. Zhang, W. Chang, Y. Liu, T. Maruyama, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, High-yield growth of multi-walled carbon nanowires by magnetic field-controlled arc technique. Carbon 2020, 158: 672-680. [11 citations]
The condition to synthesize LCC@MWCNTs can be extended to much lower current limitation by magnetic field enhanced arc technique. The work shows the yield of carbon chain is correlated reciprocally with defect of carbon nanotube.
9. Y. Zhang, J. Zhao, Y. Fang, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, Preparation of long linear carbon chain inside multi-walled carbon nanotubes by cooling enhanced hydrogen arc discharge method. Nanoscale 2018, 10: 17824-17833. [41 citations]
The narrow condition to synthesize LCC@MWCNTs can largely extended to higher current limitation by gas cooling enhanced arc discharge method. The band gap of LCC can be adjusted towards a selective synthesis.
10. Y. Zhang, L. Sheng, Y. Fang, K. An, L. Yu, X. Zhao, Synthesis of 3C-SiC nanowires from a graphene/Si configuration obtained by arc discharge method. Chemical Physics Letters 2017, 678: 17-22. [15 citations]
The work shows that few-layer graphene can be used to mass-produce 3C-SiC nanowires with diameters from 10 to 50 nm, which is useful for applications of nanodevices and composite materials.
11. X. Li, Y. Zhang, Y. Wu, L. Shi, Pressure-tailored synthesis of confined linear carbon chains. Journal of Applied Physics 2021, 129: 064302. [7 citations]
The work suggests that low vacuum is good enough for the synthesis LCC@DWCNTs, which would practically benefit the future large-scale synthesis and applications of the LCCs.
12. T. Zhu, X. Wang, W. Chang, Y. Zhang, T. Maruyama, L. Luo, X. Zhao, Green fabrication of Cu/rGO decorated SWCNT buckypaper as a flexible electrode for glucose detection. Materials Science and Engineering: C 2021, 120: 111757. [28 citations]
A green and low-cost method was developed to fabricate Cu/rGO decorated buckypaper for glucose detection, which can be extended to modify buckypaper with other metal or metal oxide nanoparticles.
13. K. Zhang, Y. Zhang, L. Shi, A review of linear carbon chains. Chinese Chemical Letters 2020, 31: 1746-1756. [67 citations]
In this review, we summarized recent studies of polyynic LCCs from both theoretical and experimental aspects. Also, perspectives are highlighted to point out the further investigations of the materials.
14. H. Li, Y. Wu, Y. Zhang, T. Zhu, T. Maruyama, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, Submerged carbon arc in deionized water: A green route for scalable preparation of gas containing polyynes. Chemical Physics 2020, 535: 110804. [8 citations]
This study provides a new route for the scalable preparation of gas containing polyynes with low cost and no pollution, and will broaden the potential application of polyynes.
15. J. Zhang, C. Fu, S. Song, H. Du, Dan. Zhao, H. Huang, L. Zhang, J. Guan, Y. Zhang, X. Zhao, C. Ma, C. Jia, D. Tománek, Changing the Phosphorus Allotrope from a Square Columnar Structure to a Planar Zigzag Nanoribbon by Increasing the Diameter of Carbon Nanotube Nanoreactors. Nano Letters 2020, 20: 1280-1285. [30 citation]
A previously unknown phosphorus square columnar structure can be fabricated inside carbon nanotube reactor. Tuning the diameter of carbon nanotube can obtain different allotropes of phosphorus.
16. H. Yan, M. Yan, Y. Zhang, T. Zhu, L. Yu, Y. Liu, T. Maruyama, X. Zhao, A facile one-pot synthesis of Fe2Si nanoparticles attached SWCNTs for enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance. Journal of Applied Physics 2019, 126: 045101. [4 citations]
Fe2Si nanoparticles attached single-walled carbon nanotubes provide good electrical conductivity and impedance matching for efficient electromagnetic wave absorber.
17. Y. Wu, Y. Zhang, T. Zhu, H. Li, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, Effects of precursor molecules on polyyne formation by arc discharge between two copper electrodes. Chemical Physics Letters 2019, 730: 64-69. [18 citations]
This study provides technical information and propensity rule for selecting appropriate precursor molecules to increase the yield of polyynes and to prepare polyyne samples of the desired chain length distribution.
18. Y. Ge, Y. Zhang, Y. Yang, S. Xie, Y. Liu, T. Maruyama, Z. Deng, X. Zhao, Enhanced adsorption and catalytic degradation of organic dyes by nanometer iron oxide anchored to single-wall carbon nanotubes. Applied Surface Science 2019, 488: 813-826. [68 citations]
Iron oxides-SWCNTs heterojunctions can be a promising adsorption and catalytic degradation of organic dyes.
19. H. Huang, J. Zhang, Y. Zhang, C. Fu, J. Huang, Y. Cheng, C. Niu, X. Zhao, H. Shinohara, Rock-salt and helix structures of silver iodides under ambient conditions. National Science Review 2019, 6: 767-774. [9 citations]
Different phase of silver iodides can be synthesized inside carbon nanotube reactor. The stabilities of these structures were also confirmed by theoretical study.
20. T. Zhu, Y. Zhang, L. Luo, X. Zhao, Facile fabrication of NiO decorated double-layer SWCNTs buckypaper for glucose detection. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2019, 11: 10856-10861. [71 citations]
A novel NiO-decorated flexible buckypaper (NiO-BP) was fabricated with a unique double-layer structure and proven to own high sensitivity for glucose detection, which is promising for wearable biosensors.
21. M. Yan, Y. Zhang, Y. Fang, L. Yu, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, The electromagnetic properties and microwave absorbing performance of titanium carbide attached single-walled carbon nanotubes. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 2018, 29: 20260–20270. [5 citations]
TiC attached SWCNTs nanocomposite produced by arc discharge method can be an excellent candidate for microwave absorption and provide a new idea to prepare weak magnetic EM wave absorber.
22. J. Zhao, Y. Zhang, Y. Fang, Z. Fan, G. Ma, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, Synthesis of polyynes by intense femtosecond laser irradiation of SWCNTs suspended in methanol. Chemical Physics Letters 2017, 682: 96-100. [15 citations]
Polyyne molecules can be synthesized by femtosecond laser pulse irradiation of SWCNTs in methanol.
23. Y. Fang, X. Tang, X. Sun, Y. Zhang, J. Zhao, L. Yu, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, Preparation and enhanced microwave absorption properties of Ni-Co attached single-walled carbon nanotubes and CoFe2O4 nanocomposit. Journal of Applied Physics 2017, 121: 224301. [35 citations]
Conferences
1. Title: In situ Raman study of the encapsulation of size-selected carbon chains inside single-walled carbon nanotubes.
Date: 09/07/2025 (accepted)
Conference: Joint Conference of the Italian and European Community of Condensed Matter Physics, Venice, Italy, (Contributed)
Type: oral report.
The role: speaker.
2. Title: Physical synthesis of finite carbon chains and their encapsulation inside carbon nanotubes.
Date: 28/06/2025
Conference: 3rd International Conference on Energy Chemistry-Towards a Carbon-Neutral Future: Innovations in Energy Chemistry, Shenzhen, China. (Contributed)
Type: oral report.
The role: speaker.
3. Title: Monitoring polyyne encapsulation inside carbon nanotubes via in situ Raman spectroscopy.
Date: 15/04/2025
Workshop: 1st Workshop on Raman Spectroscopies for Materials Science, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy (Contributed)
Type: poster.
The role: poster presenter.
Target group: researchers on Raman spectroscopy.
4. Title: How to prepare carbon chains in large yield.
Date: 26/09/2023
Seminar: NanoLab Talk, Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. (Invited)
Type: oral report.
The role: speaker.
5. Title: The growth of carbon chains inside carbon nanotubes.
Date: 05/09/2023
Conference: Joint Conference of the Italian and European Community of Condensed Matter Physics, Milan, Italy (Contributed)
Type: oral report.
The role: speaker.
Target group: global scientists.