Polyethylene Glycols for the Dispersion Development of Graphene in an Aqueous Surfactant Solution Studied by Affinity Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

Water-soluble nonionic polymers of polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were examined to develop the dispersion of graphene in an aqueous surfactant solution. Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate was used as an anionic surfactant to disperse graphene in an aqueous solution and to give negative charge on it. The dispersion of graphene was monitored through the electropherograms in affinity capillary electrophoresis; a broad peak for the dispersed graphene and shot signals for the aggregated one. When PEG was added in the separation buffer as an affinity reagent, the number of the shot signals in the electropherogram was reduced; PEG can develop the dispersion of graphene in an aqueous surfactant solution. The dispersion was also developed with PVP or PVA. The effective electrophoretic mobility of the dispersed graphene was reduced by using the polymer as an affinity reagent. The result suggested that the anionic surfactant on the graphene surface was competitively substituted with the nonionic polymer. The degree of the decrease in the effective electrophoretic mobility was larger with PEG with a high-molecular mass. The broad peak of the dispersed graphene got narrower by the addition of PEG, and the number of theoretical plates was improved.

Capillary Electrophoretic Characterization of Water-soluble Carbon Nanodots Formed from Glutamic Acid and Boric Acid under Microwave Irradiation

“…The sharpness of the peak is distinct from the peak shape of CZE or MEKC signals of graphene. [17][18][19] The result suggests that the major component of BG-CND is rather uniform; the mass/charge ratio is not so much dispersed. Markova, et al have detected a similar sharp peak for core-shell CNDs by fluorimetric detection.…”

Carbon Nanotube Immobilized Electrode Using Amphiphilic Phospholipid Polymer with Anti‐fouling and Dispersion Property for Electrochemical Analysis

“…Various functional electrodes containing CNTs have been developed . Dispersion is necessary to fabricate homogeneous CNT films on the electrode surface because CNTs are insoluble, and water‐soluble polymers have been used as dispersants for CNTs . CNT‐modified electrodes have been fabricated by dropping a dispersion of CNTs in water‐soluble polymers onto the electrode and drying it .…”

“…This method is commonly used because it is simple, low‐cost, and does not require special equipment. The water‐soluble polymers polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), polyethylenimine (PEI), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) have been used as dispersants (Figure ).…”

Capillary and Microchip Electrophoresis

“…Takayanagi et al reported that the dispersion of graphene in an aqueous solution containing water-soluble polymers and anionic surfactants was monitored by CE. 9,10 They found that the number of shot signals was reduced and a broad peak of the dispersed graphene became narrower upon the addition of PEG and dodecylbenzenesulfonate in a separation buffer. Yamamoto et al reported on a concurrent analysis of inorganic anions and cations filled in a whole capillary in CE-C 4 D. 11 Under a suppressed EOF, the migrations of anions and cations to different polarities gave a stepwise electropherogram.…”