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Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry
Published on: March 4, 2021
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Studying reaction intermediates formed at graphenic surfaces.
Depanjan Sarkar1, Soujit Sen Gupta, Rahul Narayanan
1Thematic Unit of Excellence and DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST UNS), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
|January 4, 2014
Summary
Researchers detected acetal, a reaction intermediate, during alcohol oxidation on graphene oxide surfaces using paper spray mass spectrometry. This novel surface reaction detection opens new avenues for studying chemical transformations.
Area of Science:
- Surface Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Mass Spectrometry
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) is a versatile material with unique surface properties.
- Understanding reaction intermediates is crucial for optimizing chemical processes.
- Paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) offers rapid, ambient ionization capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate in-situ production and detection of reaction intermediates on graphenic surfaces.
- To explore alcohol oxidation to acids on graphene oxide-coated paper.
- To demonstrate the capability of PS-MS for real-time reaction monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Utilized graphene oxide-coated paper as a substrate for surface reactions.
- Applied electrical potential to drive alcohol oxidation.
- Employed paper spray mass spectrometry for in-situ intermediate detection.
- Extended the methodology to other substrates like aldehydes and amines.
Main Results:
- Successfully detected acetal, a previously unobserved intermediate, during alcohol oxidation.
- Demonstrated real-time monitoring of surface reactions with time scales matching reaction kinetics.
- Extended the technique to detect products from aldehydes, amines, sugars, and other compounds instantaneously.
- Confirmed the feasibility of combining surface reactions with ambient ionization mass spectrometry.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first observation of acetal formation during surface oxidation.
- The developed method enables new insights into chemical reaction mechanisms.
- This approach offers a novel pathway for studying industrially relevant reactions using various catalysts and substrates.
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