Elemental and Stable Isotope Validation of Stepwise Graphene Oxide Functionalization to GRAPHYMERE^®

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Graphene oxide (GO) functionalization is crucial for creating advanced materials.
• Distinguishing chemical modifications in GO derivatives is analytically challenging due to spectral overlap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate elemental analysis and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS) for characterizing stepwise GO functionalization.
• To confirm the chemical modification of graphene oxide into polymerizable derivatives like GRAPHYMERE®.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of pristine graphene oxide (GO), amine-functionalized GO (GO-ED), and methacrylamide-modified GO (GRAPHYMERE®).
• Utilized elemental analysis (EA) and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to analyze carbon and nitrogen content and isotopic signatures (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N).

Main Results:

• Progressive increase in carbon content from GO to GRAPHYMERE®.
• Reproducible nitrogen incorporation after amination and retention after methacrylamide modification.
• Monotonic shifts in δ¹³C and distinct δ¹⁵N signatures confirmed bulk chemical modification.

Conclusions:

• EA-IRMS provides complementary evidence for stepwise GO functionalization pathways.
• This technique effectively distinguishes starting materials, intermediates, and final GO derivatives.
• EA-IRMS is proposed as a valuable batch-screening tool for GO-based precursors for polymer and dental applications.