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Updated: May 31, 2026
Development and Functionalization of Electrolyte-Gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistor for Biomarker Detection
Published on: February 1, 2022
Chemical functionalization of graphene.
D W Boukhvalov1, M I Katsnelson
1Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Chemical functionalization of graphene is reviewed, revealing that 100% coverage by complex groups is typically unreachable. Hydrogenated graphene serves as a model to explore these principles and potential nanoribbon destruction by fluorine.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene's unique properties stem from its 2D structure, making chemical functionalization crucial for tuning its electronic and chemical behavior.
- Understanding the principles governing graphene's chemical modification is essential for developing novel graphene-based materials and applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review experimental and theoretical findings on the chemical functionalization of graphene.
- To formulate and discuss general principles of chemical functionalization using hydrogenated graphene as a model system.
- To investigate the feasibility of achieving complete surface coverage and potential structural damage during functionalization.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing experimental and theoretical studies on graphene functionalization.
- Computational simulation of the step-by-step functionalization process for infinite graphene and graphene nanoribbons.
- Analysis of coverage limits for various functional groups, including hydrogen, fluorine, oxygen, and hydrofluoric acid.
Main Results:
- General principles for graphene chemical functionalization were established, with hydrogenated graphene serving as a key model.
- It was demonstrated that achieving 100% surface coverage by complex functional groups on graphene is generally not feasible, unlike with hydrogen or fluorine.
- The potential for fluorine to cause destruction of graphene nanoribbons was investigated.
- Simulations detailed the step-by-step functionalization of graphene and its nanoribbons using oxygen and hydrofluoric acid.
Conclusions:
- The study provides fundamental insights into the limitations and mechanisms of graphene chemical functionalization.
- The findings highlight the challenges in achieving uniform and complete functionalization, particularly with complex chemical agents.
- The research offers guidance for designing controlled functionalization strategies and predicting material stability, especially for graphene nanoribbons.
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