Organic Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures for Functional Polymer‐Based Nanocomposites

Abstract

Carbon nanostructures (CNSs), which are made up of extended sp2-hybridized carbon networks, are largely employed as nanofillers for polymer phases to obtain polymerbased nanocomposites (PNCs). Following their inclusion, the polymer matrices are often improved in many ways, such as enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity, increased stability, and mechanical robustness. The chemical functionalization of the external CNS surfaces with organic substituents is often a key tool for their effective and homogeneous incorporation within a polymer phase, avoiding the formation of aggregates, which can lower the performance of the the final material. This microreview furnishes an overview of PNCs that contain substituted CNSs with organic functionalities. These CNS-based PNCs can be used as organic functional materials in different applications that range from clean energy harvesting and storage to sensing and biomedicine

Interfacial Morphology Addresses Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Composite Hole Transporting Materials of Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide and P3HT

“…A great interest is devoted to functional composite materials based on organic semiconductors and carbon nanostructures (CNSs) for optoelectronic applications . Excluding polymer/small molecule – fullerene blends for organic photovoltaics, which constitute a unique and wide chapter apart, the other most relevant cases include carbon nanotubes or graphene composites with conjugated polymers such as polythiophenes, polyfluorenes, or narrow bandgap donor–acceptor polymers, for use in field effect transistors (FETs), thermoelectrics, supercapacitors, and flexible/wearable electronics …”

“…In principle, RGO and P3HT have the potential to establish π–π stacking interactions between their individual delocalized π electrons clouds, which can make their composites highly stable and not subjected to phase separation. Unfortunately, this does not often occur due to the stronger tendency of pristine GBMs to self‐aggregate, as it happens for the majority of CNSs, compromising the homogeneity of their dispersion within a polymer matrix . In this regard, resorting to chemical functionalization of pristine CNSs can be useful when the process is sufficiently controllable to avoid an excessive disruption of the native electronic structure .…”

“…Unfortunately, this does not often occur due to the stronger tendency of pristine GBMs to self‐aggregate, as it happens for the majority of CNSs, compromising the homogeneity of their dispersion within a polymer matrix . In this regard, resorting to chemical functionalization of pristine CNSs can be useful when the process is sufficiently controllable to avoid an excessive disruption of the native electronic structure . In the past, we have applied a coupled covalent chemical functionalization/sedimentation‐based separation (SBS) strategy to obtain homogeneous dispersion of RGO in a P3HT matrix .…”

The chemical functionalization of graphene nanoplatelets through solvent-free reaction

“…[8][9][10] Although the low surface energy of these materials may be a limitation for some applications. 11 Covalent functionalization of graphene materials provides an effective means of adjusting its surface energy as well as introducing specic functionalities. These functionalities may be an advantage for some applications, such as to enhance the compatibility with solvents and polymer matrices along with the stable attachment of the functional groups that can provide specic functional properties (e.g., uorescent molecules, dopants, etc.).…”

“…These functionalities may be an advantage for some applications, such as to enhance the compatibility with solvents and polymer matrices along with the stable attachment of the functional groups that can provide specic functional properties (e.g., uorescent molecules, dopants, etc.). [11][12][13] Cycloaddition reactions are one of the most important classes of reactions in organic chemistry. Within this class, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DCA) reaction of azomethine ylides, rst introduced by Huisgen in 1963, 14 has been applied for the efficient and high yielding synthesis of different heterocyclic compounds.…”