In this work we report the development of solution-phase radical based functionalization strategies in order chemically modify graphene in a controlled and scalable manner. This work yields exfoliated graphene nanosheets which retain their wide area whilst integrating additional chemical functionality by the grafting of functional groups to the sp2hybridized carbon lattice. Specifically, carbene radical species are generated in the presence of solution exfoliated graphene. Reactive radicals covalently graft to the carbon lattice. These groups form functional adduct groups at the surface of graphene sheets which may be further derivitized in order to disperse and integrate graphene with solvent and polymer systems.Covalent functionalization was characterized using HR-TEM, AFM, and SEM. Spectroscopic techniques; FTIR, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the covalent bonding. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Time-of-flight Mass Spectroscopy (ToF SIMS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) were employed to identify and quantify the fraction of the grafted chemical functionality relative to the bulk graphene. Characterization in the UV-Vis and Terahertz frequencies was employed to investigate modification of the optical band-gap and conductivity as a function of the chemical functionalization.Implications of carbene modified graphene are investigated by its application within a polymer matrix. Graphene-Epoxy nanocomposites are formed and their enhancements to their mechanical properties evaluated.

Carbene functionalization of exfoliated graphene: Toward scalable dispersion and integration of chemically modified graphene

248th National Meeting (2014)

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