Nano-carbon materials: From laboratories to applications in environmental protection, energy and electronics

03/08/2026

In the global race to develop advanced materials, nano-carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) are increasingly regarded as foundational materials for a wide range of next-generation technologies. From sensors for detecting environmental pollution and energy storage batteries to electronic components and thermal management solutions for high-power devices, these ultra-small materials are opening up new opportunities for the green economy and high-tech industries.

However, mastering the technologies required to fabricate, functionalise and integrate nano-materials into practical applications remains a major challenge for many developing countries. This challenge has motivated the research team led by Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Van Chuc of the Institute of Materials Science under Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) to carry out the project entitled "Development of a Category II Excellent Research Group on the Fabrication and Application of Nano-carbon Materials Integrated with Selected Related Materials" (Project Code: NCXS02.03/24-25).

Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Van Chuc conducts SEM mapping of a TiO₂@graphene core-shell sample using a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM, JSM-IT8000) at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

One of the project's most significant achievements is the successful development of a method to exfoliate graphene and hBN nanosheets from bulk materials using high-power ultrasonic vibration and planetary ball milling, a high-energy mechanical milling technique in which materials are ground by rapidly moving balls inside a milling chamber. The surfaces of these materials are then treated and functionalised to facilitate integration with other materials, broadening their potential applications in sensors, environmental treatment, energy storage and electronic devices.

The research team has also mastered the process of attaching gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles to the surfaces of CNTs, graphene and hBN. This is a key step because combining nano-carbon materials with metal nanoparticles creates multifunctional composite materials with improved charge transport, enhanced catalytic activity and greater sensitivity in sensing systems.

Fabrication process of composite materials combining carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with metal nanoparticles developed by the research team

Fabrication process of an electrochemical sensor using a Gr/CNTs/AuNPs composite membrane for detecting pesticide residues

Illustration of applying CNT-, graphene- and hBN-based thermal interface materials to a computer processor

Design of a 450W LED floodlight used for testing

In addition to its scientific value, the project has made a positive contribution to the training of high-quality human resources through the supervision of doctoral candidates and postgraduate students, while also expanding cooperation with research institutions both in Vietnam and abroad.

Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version