One-step functionalization of graphene with cyclopentadienyl-capped macromoleculesvia Diels–Alder “click” chemistry

Abstract

Under mild conditions at ambient temperature, as well as at 80 °C, graphene chemically converted from graphene oxide was functionalized with cyclopentadienyl (Cp)-capped poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether through a one-step Diels–Alder [4 + 2] (DA) “click” reaction without any catalyst. The resulting material showed improved dispersion properties in various solvents. Spectroscopic tools (Raman, FTIR, XPS, XRD) and nanoscopic scale observations (AFM, SEM, HRTEM) all confirmed the success of the DA reaction. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the grafting ratios at ambient temperature and at 80 °C were 16.7% and 21.8%, respectively.