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Published on: December 21, 2017
Graphene functionalisation with a conjugated poly(fluorene) by click coupling: striking electronic properties in
Marta Castelaín1, Gerardo Martínez, Pablo Merino
1Departamento de Física de Polímeros, Elastómeros y Aplicaciones Energéticas, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros, CSIC c/Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|March 13, 2012
Summary
Conjugated polymer poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-co-alt-(9,9-bis-(6-azidohexyl)fluorene)] (PFA) was covalently attached to graphene flakes using click chemistry. This novel graphene-polymer composite exhibited solvent-dependent optical properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene's unique properties make it attractive for advanced materials.
- Conjugated polymers offer tunable electronic and optical characteristics.
- Covalent modification is key to integrating graphene with polymers for enhanced functionality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize graphene flakes covalently modified with a specific conjugated polymer, PFA.
- To optimize the methods for attaching alkyne groups to graphene for subsequent click chemistry.
- To characterize the resulting graphene-polymer composite and investigate its optical properties.
Main Methods:
- Cu-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click chemistry) between alkyne-functionalized graphene and azide-functionalized PFA.
- Two graphene modification strategies: in situ diazonium salt coupling and amidation.
- Spectroscopic characterization using FTIR, 1H NMR, Raman, and XPS.
Main Results:
- Efficient synthesis of graphene-PFA conjugates was achieved via click coupling.
- Optimal conditions for graphene alkyne functionalization were determined.
- Spectroscopic analyses confirmed successful covalent modification.
- The optical absorption and emission spectra of the composite displayed significant solvent dependency.
Conclusions:
- Covalent functionalization of graphene with PFA using click chemistry is a viable and efficient method.
- The developed synthetic route provides a pathway to novel graphene-polymer hybrid materials.
- The observed solvent dependency in optical properties suggests potential applications in responsive materials.
