Graphene is considered one of the most robust nano-scale materials since it was first synthesized in the laboratory in 2004. However, due to the perfect planar morphology and aromaticity of graphene, it is difficult to functionalize graphene. Inspired by the success of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to fullerenes and nanotubes, and recent experimental results, we explored this class of reactions with graphene surfaces by means of density functional theory calculations. Two highly reactive 1,3-dipolar species, azomethine ylide and carbonyl ylide, were investigated on three types of bonds, center, corner and edge. Reaction on the center area will have significant effect on the morphology of graphene and change the planar structure into a bent structure, breaking local p-p conjugation. Reactions on corner and edge bonds only distort the reacting benzene ring and keep the overall planar structure elsewhere. Meanwhile, to make reliable predictions of energetics, benchmark of various methods have been performed.

Computational investigations of chemical modifications of nanomaterials

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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