Tactical tuning of the surface and interfacial properties of graphene: A Versatile and rational electrochemical approach

Abstract

Designing a versatile and rational method for the tactical tuning of the surface and interfacial properties of graphene is an essential yet challenging task of many scientific areas including health care, sensors, energy, and the environment. A method was designed herein to tackle the challenge and tune the surface and interfacial properties of graphene using a simple electrochemical tethering of arylamines that provides diverse reactive end groups to graphene. This method resulted in the preparation of graphenes with thiol, hydroxy, amine, carboxyl, and sulfonate surface functionalities respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the chemical, morphological, and electrochemical properties of the modified graphenes. The results show the promising scope of the reported method towards the tactical tuning of the surface and interfacial properties of graphene. Also, this method can give fundamental insights of the surface tuning of graphene and its structurally similar materials. Hence, this approach can be used to advantageously tune the surface properties of the other structurally similar nanocarbons and their hybrid materials to make them potential candidates for many applications.

Review: new insights into optimizing chemical and 3D surface structures of carbon electrodes for neurotransmitter detection

“…However, the steric hindrance from these aryl groups limited the access to the graphene electroactive area. 45 Surface treatments also change the oxide functionalization; for example, oxygen plasma etching or laser treatment of CNT yarns increased the oxygen content. 46 , 47 Too much functionalization on the sp 2 -hybridized carbon nanomaterials disrupts the conjugation and decrease the conductivity of the electrode.…”

“…Chemical functionalization of negatively-charged functional groups, such as carboxylate and sulfonate groups, enhances dopamine adsorption as well. 44 , 45 , 79 Overall, most studies find that a balance of edge plane and oxide sites increases adsorption, although too much of either can decrease the conductivity of the material. Table 1 summarizes the advantages and limitations of different chemical structures for carbon electrodes.…”

Inhibition of Photoconversion Activity in Self-Assembled ZnO-Graphene Quantum Dots Aggregated by 4-Aminophenol Used as a Linker

“…Figure 1 a depicts the ZGQDs chemically synthesized in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution, which have three kinds of functional groups on the surface of graphene [ 16 ]. The aggregation mechanism of ZGAs can be described by several chemical reactions as follows ( Figure 1 b): (1) the activated carboxyl groups of ZGQDs react with the amine groups of 4-AP to form amide bonds at a high temperature of 140 °C [ 15 ], (2) the hydroxyl groups remaining in 4-AP form ester bonds with the carboxyl groups of another graphene surface by the esterification reaction, (3) the amine groups of 4-AP react with epoxy groups on the graphene nanoshell through the ring-opening reaction [ 17 ], and (4) the noncovalent interaction (pi-interaction) between graphene shells of ZGQDs and aromatic molecules of 4-AP [ 18 ]. Consequently, the graphene shell serves as an important intermedium for bonding with other ZGQDs.…”

“…In this paper, we demonstrate the synthesis of the zinc oxide graphene quantum dot aggregates (ZGAs) using 4-aminophenol (4-AP) as a linker by a facile solvothermal method. The arylamine derivatives including 4-AP are employed for the covalent functionalization of graphene [15], which can play a role as a medium that can connect between the graphene shells of ZnO-graphene core-shell quantum dots (ZGQDs). Herein, we investigated the photoconversion properties of ZGAs and ZGQDs using the UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL).…”

Modulating Metal‐Free and Non‐Enzymatic Electrocatalytic Activity of sp2 Carbons Towards H2O2 Reduction by a Facile and Low‐Temperature Electrochemical Approach

“…Hence, other methods such as anodic oxidation of amines and acetates, cathodic reduction of diazonium and iodinium etc. were developed . During this anodic oxidation and reduction approaches sp 2 carbon is converted to sp 3 and the grafted molecules may act as a barrier.…”