Novel Applications with Asphaltene Electronic Structure

Abstract

Asphaltenes are the molecular components of Asphalts and have polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) structures similar to nanographenes. Thus, organic-based dye sensitized solar cells can be produced from asphaltenes. In addition, graphene based structures doped with transition metals can be synthesized from asphaltenes. These materials are simple to synthesize and inexpensive relative to other methods for doping graphene. Thus, what is considered a “Waste Material Tar” can now be utilized in several important applications. These novel materials from asphaltene are also termed Discotic Liquid Crystals (DLC) and now have great potential in many areas, because of novel and valuable properties, easy synthesis and low cost.