Functionalization of graphene sheets through fullerene attachment uri icon

abstract

  • Fullerene-functionalized graphene shows a hierarchical structure, and is promising for many potential applications. In this paper, a new method is presented to synthesize such a novel nanostructure. Graphite flakes were intercalated to graphite oxide, and then functionalized with zero-dimensional fullerene nanocrystals. The resultant compounds were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The characterization results confirmed that fullerene crystals were successfully attached onto the single-layer graphene sheets and significantly facilitated the exfoliation of graphite to monolayer graphene. The fullerene grafted on the graphene surface serves as a space impediment to prevent the re-stacking of exfoliated graphene sheets. This attempt provides an effective route for large-scale exfoliation and functionalization of monolayer graphene, and is expected to significantly facilitate the application of graphene in the electronic devices, energy storage, and functional materials. 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

published proceedings

  • Journal of Materials Chemistry

author list (cited authors)

  • Zhang, Y., Ren, L., Wang, S., Marathe, A., Chaudhuri, J., & Li, G.

citation count

  • 97

complete list of authors

  • Zhang, Yue||Ren, Liqiang||Wang, Shiren||Marathe, Archis||Chaudhuri, Jharna||Li, Guigen

publication date

  • April 2011