Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application

Natural hydration shells are discovered to play an essential role in the structure and function of biomolecules (deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and phospholipid membrane). Hydration layers are also important to the structure and property of artificial graphene-based materials. Our recent works prov...

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Main Authors: Hon Nhien Le, Duy Khanh Nguyen, Minh Triet Dang, Huyen Trinh Nguyen, Thi Bang Tam Dao, Trung Do Nguyen, Chi Nhan Ha Thuc, Van Hieu Le
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Beilstein-Institut 2025-06-01
Series:Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.61
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author Hon Nhien Le
Duy Khanh Nguyen
Minh Triet Dang
Huyen Trinh Nguyen
Thi Bang Tam Dao
Trung Do Nguyen
Chi Nhan Ha Thuc
Van Hieu Le
author_facet Hon Nhien Le
Duy Khanh Nguyen
Minh Triet Dang
Huyen Trinh Nguyen
Thi Bang Tam Dao
Trung Do Nguyen
Chi Nhan Ha Thuc
Van Hieu Le
author_sort Hon Nhien Le
collection DOAJ
description Natural hydration shells are discovered to play an essential role in the structure and function of biomolecules (deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and phospholipid membrane). Hydration layers are also important to the structure and property of artificial graphene-based materials. Our recent works prove that graphene-based hydrogels are supramolecular hydration structures that preserve graphene nanosheets from the restacking through hydrophobic force, van der Waals force, and π–π interaction. In this manuscript, density functional theory and high-performance computing (HPC) are used for modeling and calculating van der Waals force between graphene nanosheets in water-intercalated AB bilayer graphene structures. A layer of water molecules significantly decreases the intersheet van der Waals force. A novel hydrogel of graphene oxide–silica gel–zinc hydroxide (GO-SG-ZH) is experimentally synthesized to demonstrate the advantages of hydrated hydrogel structure in comparison with dry powder structure. The synthesis of graphene-based hydrogels is a green chemistry approach to attain extraordinary properties of graphene-based nanostructures. Analytical characterizations exhibited moisture contents, water evaporation rates, three-dimensional structures, elemental compositions, aqueous dispersibility, and antibacterial activities. Hydration shells on graphene-based nanosheets in the hydrogel increase intersheet distances to prevent the stacking of the nanostructures. Hydration layers in the GO-SG-ZH hydrogel was also lubricative for direct brush coating on polymer substrates, typically polylactide films. Interfacial adhesion of graphene-based nanosheets on polylactide substrates made the antibacterial coating stable for several application purposes. In general, supramolecular graphene-based hydrogels are bioinspired hydration structures to advance nanoscale properties and nanotechnology applications.
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spelling doaj-art-02e71046124347bf9e73cda1cf1aeebe2025-08-20T02:40:35ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862025-06-0116180682210.3762/bjnano.16.612190-4286-16-61Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface applicationHon Nhien Le0Duy Khanh Nguyen1Minh Triet Dang2Huyen Trinh Nguyen3Thi Bang Tam Dao4Trung Do Nguyen5Chi Nhan Ha Thuc6Van Hieu Le7Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam Laboratory for Computational Physics, Institute for Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam School of Education, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, 90000, Vietnam Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam Natural hydration shells are discovered to play an essential role in the structure and function of biomolecules (deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and phospholipid membrane). Hydration layers are also important to the structure and property of artificial graphene-based materials. Our recent works prove that graphene-based hydrogels are supramolecular hydration structures that preserve graphene nanosheets from the restacking through hydrophobic force, van der Waals force, and π–π interaction. In this manuscript, density functional theory and high-performance computing (HPC) are used for modeling and calculating van der Waals force between graphene nanosheets in water-intercalated AB bilayer graphene structures. A layer of water molecules significantly decreases the intersheet van der Waals force. A novel hydrogel of graphene oxide–silica gel–zinc hydroxide (GO-SG-ZH) is experimentally synthesized to demonstrate the advantages of hydrated hydrogel structure in comparison with dry powder structure. The synthesis of graphene-based hydrogels is a green chemistry approach to attain extraordinary properties of graphene-based nanostructures. Analytical characterizations exhibited moisture contents, water evaporation rates, three-dimensional structures, elemental compositions, aqueous dispersibility, and antibacterial activities. Hydration shells on graphene-based nanosheets in the hydrogel increase intersheet distances to prevent the stacking of the nanostructures. Hydration layers in the GO-SG-ZH hydrogel was also lubricative for direct brush coating on polymer substrates, typically polylactide films. Interfacial adhesion of graphene-based nanosheets on polylactide substrates made the antibacterial coating stable for several application purposes. In general, supramolecular graphene-based hydrogels are bioinspired hydration structures to advance nanoscale properties and nanotechnology applications.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.61antibacterial coatingbioinspired hydrationdensity functional theorygraphene-based hydrogelsupramolecular structure
spellingShingle Hon Nhien Le
Duy Khanh Nguyen
Minh Triet Dang
Huyen Trinh Nguyen
Thi Bang Tam Dao
Trung Do Nguyen
Chi Nhan Ha Thuc
Van Hieu Le
Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
antibacterial coating
bioinspired hydration
density functional theory
graphene-based hydrogel
supramolecular structure
title Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application
title_full Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application
title_fullStr Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application
title_full_unstemmed Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application
title_short Supramolecular hydration structure of graphene-based hydrogels: density functional theory, green chemistry and interface application
title_sort supramolecular hydration structure of graphene based hydrogels density functional theory green chemistry and interface application
topic antibacterial coating
bioinspired hydration
density functional theory
graphene-based hydrogel
supramolecular structure
url https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.16.61
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