Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites

Toward all-carbon electronics: fabrication of graphene-based flexible electronic circuits and memory cards using maskless laser direct writing

Owing to its extraordinary electronic property, chemical stability, and unique two-dimensional nanostructure, graphene is being considered as an ideal material for the highly expected all-carbon-based micro/nanoscale electronics. Herein, we present a simple yet versatile approach to constructing all-carbon micro/nanoelectronics using solution-processing graphene films directly. From these graphene films, various graphene-based microcosmic patterns and structures have been fabricated using maskless computer-controlled laser cutting. Furthermore, a complete system involving a prototype of a flexible write-once-read-many-times memory card and a fast data-reading system has been demonstrated, with infinite data retention time and high reliability. These results indicate that graphene could be the ideal material for fabricating the highly demanded all-carbon and flexible devices and electronics using the simple and efficient roll-to-roll printing process when combined with maskless direct data writing.

Preparation of covalently functionalized graphene using residual oxygen-containing functional groups

When fabricated by thermal exfoliation, graphene can be covalently functionalized more easily by applying a direct ring-opening reaction between the residual epoxide functional groups on the graphene and the amine-bearing molecules. Investigation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) all confirm that these molecules were covalently grafted to the surface of graphene. The resulting dispersion in an organic solvent demonstrated a long-term homogeneous stability of the products. Furthermore, comparison with traditional free radical functionalization shows the extent of the defects characterized by TEM and Raman spectroscopy and reveals that direct functionalization enables graphene to be covalently functionalized on the surface without causing any further damage to the surface structure. Thermogravmetric analysis (TGA) shows that the nondestroyed graphene structure provides greater thermal stability not only for the grafted molecules but also, more importantly, for the graphene itself, compared to the free-radical grafting method.

Dramatic increase in fatigue life in hierarchical graphene composites

We report the synthesis and fatigue characterization of fiberglass/epoxy composites with various weight fractions of graphene platelets infiltrated into the epoxy resin as well as directly spray-coated on to the glass microfibers. Remarkably only ∼0.2% (with respect to the epoxy resin weight and ∼0.02% with respect to the entire laminate weight) of graphene additives enhanced the fatigue life of the composite in the flexural bending mode by up to 1200-fold. By contrast, under uniaxial tensile fatigue conditions, the graphene fillers resulted in ∼3-5-fold increase in fatigue life. The fatigue life increase (in the flexural bending mode) with graphene additives was ∼1-2 orders of magnitude superior to those obtained using carbon nanotubes. In situ ultrasound analysis of the nanocomposite during the cyclic fatigue test suggests that the graphene network toughens the fiberglass/epoxy-matrix interface and prevents the delamination/buckling of the glass microfibers under compressive stress. Such fatigue-resistant hierarchical materials show potential to improve the safety, reliability, and cost effectiveness of fiber-reinforced composites that are increasingly the material of choice in the aerospace, automotive, marine, sports, biomedical, and wind energy industries.

A study of the synthetic methods and properties of graphenes

Graphenes with varying number of layers can be synthesized by using different strategies. Thus, single-layer graphene is prepared by micromechanical cleavage, reduction of single-layer graphene oxide, chemical vapor deposition and other methods. Few-layer graphenes are synthesized by conversion of nanodiamond, arc discharge of graphite and other methods. In this article, we briefly overview the various synthetic methods and the surface, magnetic and electrical properties of the produced graphenes. Few-layer graphenes exhibit ferromagnetic features along with antiferromagnetic properties, independent of the method of preparation. Aside from the data on electrical conductivity of graphenes and graphene-polymer composites, we also present the field-effect transistor characteristics of graphenes. Only single-layer reduced graphene oxide exhibits ambipolar properties. The interaction of electron donor and acceptor molecules with few-layer graphene samples is examined in detail.

Graphene and graphene oxide: synthesis, properties, and applications

There is intense interest in graphene in fields such as physics, chemistry, and materials science, among others. Interest in graphene's exceptional physical properties, chemical tunability, and potential for applications has generated thousands of publications and an accelerating pace of research, making review of such research timely. Here is an overview of the synthesis, properties, and applications of graphene and related materials (primarily, graphite oxide and its colloidal suspensions and materials made from them), from a materials science perspective.

A smart pH responsive graphene/polyacrylamide complex via noncovalent interaction

We report that the graphene sheets can be stably dispersed in water by hydrophobic interaction with polyacrylamide. Most interestingly, the resultant graphene-polyacrylamide complexes show a reversible pH responsive property although polyacrylamide itself does not possess such characteristics. This method opens up novel opportunities for the potential applications of graphene in intelligent sensors, biology, medicine, nanoelectronics and other relevant areas.

Synthesis of hydrophilic and organophilic chemically modified graphene oxide sheets

In this work, hydrophilic and organophilic chemically modified graphene oxide (CMGO) sheets were prepared through a two-step diimide-activated amidation. The hydrophilic and organophilic products were characterized by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The resulted dispersions are homogeneous and exhibit long-term stability, which will facilitate the combination of CMGO sheets with polymers to yield homogeneous composites.

Graphene oxide sheet-prussian blue nanocomposites: green synthesis and their extraordinary electrochemical properties

A facile and green method for the synthesis of graphene oxide sheets (GOs)-prussian blue nanocomposites has been presented via a spontaneous redox reaction in a aqueous solution containing FeCl3, K3[Fe(CN)6] and graphene oxide sheets. Electrochemical property investigation demonstrates PB nanocubes formed on the surface of GOs retain their excellent electrochemical activity and the GOs can enhance the electron transfer between PB and GC electrode. Moreover, the obtained nanocomposites even have shown a higher sensitivity toward the electrocatalytical reduction of H2O2 than that of multiwalled carbon nanotube/PB nanocomposites. Given their extraordinary electrochemical properties and the green preparation, as-prepared GO-PB nanocomposites have great potential in the field of electrochemical sensor and biofuel cell.

Sacrificial bonds in stacked-cup carbon nanofibers: biomimetic toughening mechanisms for composite systems

Many natural composites, such as nacre or bone, achieve exceptional toughening enhancements through the rupture of noncovalent secondary bonds between chain segments in the organic phase. This "sacrificial bond" rupture dissipates enormous amounts of energy and reveals significant hidden lengths due to unraveling of the highly coiled macromolecules, leaving the structural integrity of their covalent backbones intact to large extensions. In this work, we present the first evidence of similar sacrificial bond mechanisms in the inorganic phase of composites using inexpensive stacked-cup carbon nanofibers (CNF), which are composed of helically coiled graphene sheets with graphitic spacing between adjacent layers. These CNFs are dispersed in a series of high-performance epoxy systems containing trifunctional and tetrafunctional resins, which are traditionally difficult to toughen in light of their highly cross-linked networks. Nonetheless, the addition of only 0.68 wt % CNF yields toughness enhancements of 43-112% for the various blends. Analysis of the relevant toughening mechanisms reveals two heretofore unseen mechanisms using sacrificial bonds that complement the observed crack deflection, rupture, and debonding/pullout that are common to many composite systems. First, embedded nanofibers can splay discretely between adjacent graphitic layers in the side walls; second, crack-bridging nanofibers can unravel continuously. Both of these mechanisms entail the dissipation of the pi-pi interactions between layers in the side walls without compromising the structural integrity of the graphene sheets. Moreover, increases in electrical conductivity of approximately 7-10 orders of magnitude were found, highlighting the multifunctionality of CNFs as reinforcements for the design of tough, inexpensive nanocomposites with improved electrical properties.

A one-step, solvothermal reduction method for producing reduced graphene oxide dispersions in organic solvents

Refluxing graphene oxide (GO) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) results in deoxygenation and reduction to yield a stable colloidal dispersion. The solvothermal reduction is accompanied by a color change from light brown to black. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the product confirm the presence of single sheets of the solvothermally reduced graphene oxide (SRGO). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of SRGO indicates a significant increase in intensity of the C=C bond character, while the oxygen content decreases markedly after the reduction is complete. X-ray diffraction analysis of SRGO shows a single broad peak at 26.24 degrees 2theta (3.4 A), confirming the presence of graphitic stacking of reduced sheets. SRGO sheets are redispersible in a variety of organic solvents, which may hold promise as an acceptor material for bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells, or electromagnetic interference shielding applications.

Water-dispersible magnetite-reduced graphene oxide composites for arsenic removal

Magnetite-graphene hybrids have been synthesized via a chemical reaction with a magnetite particle size of approximately 10 nm. The composites are superparamagnetic at room temperature and can be separated by an external magnetic field. As compared to bare magnetite particles, the hybrids show a high binding capacity for As(III) and As(V), whose presence in the drinking water in wide areas of South Asia has been a huge problem. Their high binding capacity is due to the increased adsorption sites in the M-RGO composite which occurs by reducing the aggregation of bare magnetite. Since the composites show near complete (over 99.9%) arsenic removal within 1 ppb, they are practically usable for arsenic separation from water.

Self-assembled graphene hydrogel via a one-step hydrothermal process

Self-assembly of two-dimensional graphene sheets is an important strategy for producing macroscopic graphene architectures for practical applications, such as thin films and layered paperlike materials. However, construction of graphene self-assembled macrostructures with three-dimensional networks has never been realized. In this paper, we prepared a self-assembled graphene hydrogel (SGH) via a convenient one-step hydrothermal method. The SGH is electrically conductive, mechanically strong, and thermally stable and exhibits a high specific capacitance. The high-performance SGH with inherent biocompatibility of carbon materials is attractive in the fields of biotechnology and electrochemistry, such as drug-delivery, tissue scaffolds, bionic nanocomposites, and supercapacitors.

Compression behavior of single-layer graphenes

Central to most applications involving monolayer graphenes is its mechanical response under various stress states. To date most of the work reported is of theoretical nature and refers to tension and compression loading of model graphenes. Most of the experimental work is indeed limited to the bending of single flakes in air and the stretching of flakes up to typically approximately 1% using plastic substrates. Recently we have shown that by employing a cantilever beam we can subject single graphenes to various degrees of axial compression. Here we extend this work much further by measuring in detail both stress uptake and compression buckling strain in single flakes of different geometries. In all cases the mechanical response is monitored by simultaneous Raman measurements through the shift of either the G or 2D phonons of graphene. Despite the infinitely small thickness of the monolayers, the results show that graphenes embedded in plastic beams exhibit remarkable compression buckling strains. For large length (l)-to-width (w) ratios (> or =0.2) the buckling strain is of the order of -0.5% to -0.6%. However, for l/w < 0.2 no failure is observed for strains even higher than -1%. Calculations based on classical Euler analysis show that the buckling strain enhancement provided by the polymer lateral support is more than 6 orders of magnitude compared to that of suspended graphene in air.

Synthesis, characterization, and multilayer assembly of pH sensitive graphene-polymer nanocomposites

pH sensitive graphene-polymer composites have been prepared by the modification of graphene basal planes with pyrene-terminated poly(2-N,N'-(dimethyl amino ethyl acrylate) (PDMAEA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) via pi-pi stacking. The pyrene-terminal PDMAEA and PAA were synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with a pyrene-functional RAFT agent. The graphene-polymer composites were found to demonstrate phase transfer behavior between aqueous and organic media at different pH values. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis revealed that the thicknesses of the graphene-polymer sheets were approximately 3.0 nm when prepared using PDMAEA (M(n): 6800 and PDI: 1.12). The surface coverage of polymer chains on the graphene basal plane was calculated to be 5.3 x 10(-11) mol cm(-2) for PDMAEA and 1.3 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2) for PAA. The graphene-polymer composites were successfully characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Self-assembly of the two oppositely charged graphene-polymer composites afforded layer-by-layer (LbL) structures as evidenced by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements.

Chemically derived graphene oxide: towards large-area thin-film electronics and optoelectronics

Chemically derived graphene oxide (GO) possesses a unique set of properties arising from oxygen functional groups that are introduced during chemical exfoliation of graphite. Large-area thin-film deposition of GO, enabled by its solubility in a variety of solvents, offers a route towards GO-based thin-film electronics and optoelectronics. The electrical and optical properties of GO are strongly dependent on its chemical and atomic structure and are tunable over a wide range via chemical engineering. In this Review, the fundamental structure and properties of GO-based thin films are discussed in relation to their potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics.

Well-dispersed chitosan/graphene oxide nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of chitosan and graphene oxide are prepared by simple self-assembly of both components in aqueous media. It is observed that graphene oxide is dispersed on a molecular scale in the chitosan matrix and some interactions occur between chitosan matrix and graphene oxide sheets. These are responsible for efficient load transfer between the nanofiller graphene and chitosan matrix. Compared with the pure chitosan, the tensile strength, and Young's modulus of the graphene-based materials are significantly improved by about 122 and 64%, respectively, with incorporation of 1 wt % graphene oxide. At the same time, the elongation at the break point increases remarkably. The experimental results indicate that graphene oxide sheets prefer to disperse well within the nanocomposites.

Exfoliation of graphene from graphite and their self-assembly at the oil-water interface

High-quality graphene flakes have been exfoliated directly from graphite by solvothermal treatment. By introducing the oil/water interface, graphene can be easily and quickly separated from the graphene/NMP solution, which overcomes shortcomings of the time-consuming method of filtration. At the same time, the graphene film can be fabricated at the oil/water interface by controlling the volume of graphene/NMP solution. Furthermore, carbon nanotube/carbon nanospheres films can also be prepared successfully through the same separation method.

Solution chemistry of self-assembled graphene nanohybrids for high-performance flexible biosensors

We report the preparation of free-standing flexible conductive reduced graphene oxide/Nafion (RGON) hybrid films by a solution chemistry that utilizes self-assembly and directional convective-assembly. The hydrophobic backbone of Nafion provided well-defined integrated structures, on micro- and macroscales, for the construction of hybrid materials through self-assembly, while the hydrophilic sulfonate groups enabled highly stable dispersibility ( approximately 0.5 mg/mL) and long-term stability (2 months) for graphene. The geometrically interlocked morphology of RGON produced a high degree of mechanical integrity in the hybrid films, while the interpenetrating network constructed favorable conduction pathways for charge transport. Importantly, the synergistic electrochemical characteristics of RGON were attributed to high conductivity (1176 S/m), facilitated electron transfer (ET), and low interfacial resistance. Consequently, RGON films obtained the excellent figure of merit as electrochemical biosensing platforms for organophosphate (OP) detection, that is, a sensitivity of 10.7 nA/microM, detection limit of 1.37 x 10(-7) M, and response time of <3 s. In addition, the reliability of RGON biosensors was confirmed by a fatigue test of 100 bending cycles. The strategy described here provides insight into the fabrication of graphene and hybrid nanomaterials from a material perspective, as well as the design of biosensor platforms for practical device applications.

Tearing graphene sheets from adhesive substrates produces tapered nanoribbons

Graphene is a truly two-dimensional atomic crystal with exceptional electronic and mechanical properties. Whereas conventional bulk and thin-film materials have been studied extensively, the key mechanical properties of graphene, such as tearing and cracking, remain unknown, partly due to its two-dimensional nature and ultimate single-atom-layer thickness, which result in the breakdown of conventional material models. By combining first-principles ReaxFF molecular dynamics and experimental studies, a bottom-up investigation of the tearing of graphene sheets from adhesive substrates is reported, including the discovery of the formation of tapered graphene nanoribbons. Through a careful analysis of the underlying molecular rupture mechanisms, it is shown that the resulting nanoribbon geometry is controlled by both the graphene-substrate adhesion energy and by the number of torn graphene layers. By considering graphene as a model material for a broader class of two-dimensional atomic crystals, these results provide fundamental insights into the tearing and cracking mechanisms of highly confined nanomaterials.

Biocompatible graphene oxide-based glucose biosensors

This letter demonstrates that a novel, highly efficient enzyme electrode can be directly obtained using covalent attachment between carboxyl acid groups of graphene oxide sheets and amines of glucose oxidase. The resulting biosensor exhibits a broad linear range up to 28 mM x mm(-2) glucose with a sensitivity of 8.045 mA x cm(-2) x M(-1). The glucose oxidase-immobilized graphene oxide electrode also shows a reproducibility and a good storage stability, suggesting potentials for a wide range of practical applications. The biocompatibility of as-synthesized graphene oxide nanosheets with human cells, especially retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, was investigated for the first time in the present work. Microporous graphene oxide exhibits good biocompatibility and has potential advantages with respect to cell attachment and proliferation, leading to opportunities for using graphene-based biosensors for the clinical diagnosis.

Atomic-scale observation of rotational misorientation in suspended few-layer graphene sheets

Single or few-layer graphene (FLG) sheets offer extraordinary electronic, thermal and mechanical properties and are expected to find a variety of applications. Fully exploiting the properties of graphene will require a method for the production of high-quality graphene sheets (almost pristine graphene) in large quantities. In this regard, we report a two-step method for obtaining a homogenous colloidal suspension of single or FLG sheets up to 0.15 mg ml(-1) in N,N-dimethylformamide solution. The graphene nanostructures are directly imaged using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) operated at 200 kV with a point resolution of 0.16 nm. We observed rotational misorientation within the flake in the HRTEM images of 2, 4 and 6 layers of graphene sheets, giving rise to Moiré patterns. By filtering in the frequency domain using a Fourier transform, we reconstruct the graphene lattice of each sheet and determine the relative rotation between consecutive graphene layers up, to six separate sheets. Direct evidence is obtained for FLG sheets with packing that is different to the standard AB Bernal packing of bulk graphite. Furthermore, we observed periodic ripples in suspended graphene sheets in our TEM measurements. Electrostatic force microscopy was used to characterize the electric potential distribution on the surface of FLG sheets on SiO2/Si substrates in ambient conditions. The FLG sheets were found to exhibit a conducting nature with small potential variations on the surface.

Hydrogen bond networks in graphene oxide composite paper: structure and mechanical properties

A multilayered composite structure formed by a random stacking of graphene oxide (GO) platelets is an attractive candidate for novel applications in nanoelectromechanical systems and paper-like composites. We employ molecular dynamics simulations with reactive force fields to elucidate the structural and mechanical properties of GO paper-like materials. We find that the large-scale properties of these composites are controlled by hydrogen bond networks that involve functional groups on individual GO platelets and water molecules within the interlayer cavities. Water content controls both the extent and collective strength of these interlayer hydrogen bond networks, thereby affecting the interlayer spacing and elastic moduli of the composite. Additionally, the chemical composition of the individual GO platelets also plays a critical role in establishing the mechanical properties of the composite--a higher density of functional groups leads to increased hydrogen bonding and a corresponding increase in stiffness. Our studies suggest the possibility of tuning the properties of GO composites by altering the density of functional groups on individual platelets, the water content, and possibly the functional groups participating in hydrogen bonding with interlayer water molecules.

Nitrogen-doped graphene and its application in electrochemical biosensing

Chemical doping with foreign atoms is an effective method to intrinsically modify the properties of host materials. Among them, nitrogen doping plays a critical role in regulating the electronic properties of carbon materials. Recently, graphene, as a true two-dimensional carbon material, has shown fascinating applications in bioelectronics and biosensors. In this paper, we report a facile strategy to prepare N-doped graphene by using nitrogen plasma treatment of graphene synthesized via a chemical method. Meanwhile, a possible schematic diagram has been proposed to detail the structure of N-doped graphene. By controlling the exposure time, the N percentage in host graphene can be regulated, ranging from 0.11 to 1.35%. Moreover, the as-prepared N-doped graphene has displayed high electrocatalytic activity for reduction of hydrogen peroxide and fast direct electron transfer kinetics for glucose oxidase. The N-doped graphene has further been used for glucose biosensing with concentrations as low as 0.01 mM in the presence of interferences.

Effect of particle structure and surface chemistry on PMMA adsorption to silica nanoparticles

The interphase layer of polymers adsorbed to silica surfaces can be affected by the surface silanol density as well as the relative size of the polymer compared with the size of the adsorbing substrate. Here, the nonequilibrium adsorption of PMMA onto individual colloidal Stober silica (SiO(2)) particles, where R(particle) (100 nm) > R(PMMA) (approximately 6.5 nm) was compared with the adsorption onto fumed silica, where R(particle) (7 nm) approximately R(PMMA) (6.5 nm) < R(aggregate) (approximately 1000 nm), as a function of both silanol density [SiOH] and hydrophobility. In the former case, TEM images showed that the PMMA adsorbed onto individual nanoparticles, so that the number of PMMA chains/bead could be calculated, whereas in the latter case bridging of PMMA between aggregates occurred. The anchoring point densities were comparable to the silanol densities, suggesting that PMMA adsorbed as trains rather than loops. For hydrophilic SiO(2), T(g) increased with [SiOH], as more carbonyl groups hydrogen bonded to the silanols, and was independent of particle morphology. For methylated silica, (CH(3))(3)SiO(2), the adsorption isotherms were identical for colloidal and fumed silica, but T(g) was depressed for the former, and comparable to the bulk value for the latter. The increased T(g) of PMMA adsorbed onto fumed (CH(3))(3)SiO(2) was attributed to the larger loops formed by the bridging PMMA chains between the silica aggregates.

Graphene oxide, highly reduced graphene oxide, and graphene: versatile building blocks for carbon-based materials

Isolated graphene, a nanometer-thick two-dimensional analog of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, has recently sparked great excitement in the scientific community given its excellent mechanical and electronic properties. Particularly attractive is the availability of bulk quantities of graphene as both colloidal dispersions and powders, which enables the facile fabrication of many carbon-based materials. The fact that such large amounts of graphene are most easily produced via the reduction of graphene oxide--oxygenated graphene sheets covered with epoxy, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups--offers tremendous opportunities for access to functionalized graphene-based materials. Both graphene oxide and graphene can be processed into a wide variety of novel materials with distinctly different morphological features, where the carbonaceous nanosheets can serve as either the sole component, as in papers and thin films, or as fillers in polymer and/or inorganic nanocomposites. This Review summarizes techniques for preparing such advanced materials via stable graphene oxide, highly reduced graphene oxide, and graphene dispersions in aqueous and organic media. The excellent mechanical and electronic properties of the resulting materials are highlighted with a forward outlook on their applications.

Mechanical properties of methyl functionalized graphene: a molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the mechanical properties of methyl (CH(3)) functionalized graphene. It is found that the mechanical properties of functionalized graphene greatly depend on the location, distribution and coverage of CH(3) radicals on graphene. Surface functionalization exhibits a much stronger influence on the mechanical properties than edge functionalization. For patterned functionalization on graphene surfaces, the radicals arranged in lines perpendicular to the tensile direction lead to larger strength deterioration than those parallel to the tensile direction. For random functionalization, the elastic modulus of graphene decreases gradually with increasing CH(3) coverage, while both the strength and fracture strain show a sharp drop at low coverage. When CH(3) coverage reaches saturation, the elastic modulus, strength and fracture strain of graphene drop by as much as 18%, 43% and 47%, respectively.