Biocompatible 2D Material Inks Enabled by Supramolecular Chemistry: From Synthesis to Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) materials like graphene offer unique properties but require controlled surface chemistry for applications.
• Surface chemistry dictates nanomaterial properties, including stability, dispersibility, and biological interactions.
• Tunable surface chemistry is essential for tailoring 2D materials to specific applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of supramolecular chemistry in creating stable, water-based 2D material dispersions.
• To highlight the use of pyrene derivatives as supramolecular receptors for liquid-phase exfoliation.
• To explore applications of surface-engineered 2D materials in electronics and biomedicine.

Main Methods:

• Liquid-phase exfoliation of 2D materials using pyrene derivatives as stabilizers.
• Noncovalent functionalization strategies to tune surface chemistry.
• Characterization of dispersion properties (concentration, stability, size, thickness).

Main Results:

• Pyrene derivative structure correlates with 2D material dispersion characteristics.
• Achieved stable, highly concentrated dispersions of 2D materials in water.
• Demonstrated successful applications in printed electronics, sensing, and biomedical fields.

Conclusions:

• Supramolecular chemistry offers a powerful route to engineer 2D material surface chemistry for diverse applications.
• The designed pyrene derivatives ensure material stability in biological media, enabling accurate biological effect assessment.
• This approach facilitates the integration of solution-processed 2D materials into practical technologies.