Synthesis of graphene soluble in organic solvents by simultaneous ether-functionalization with octadecane groups and reduction

Abstract

Octadecane-functionalized graphene (OD-G) soluble in organic solvents was produced by combining the 21

Hummers process for graphite oxidation and a simultaneous ether-functionalization and reduction approach 22

with 1-bromooctadecane in pyridine and dimethylformamide (DMF). The exfoliated OD-Gs were testified to 23

be monolayer sheets by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The 24

functionalization with octadecane (OD) groups and the effective deoxygenation of graphene oxide (GO) 25

were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermo- 26

gravimetric analysis (TGA). It is proved that the effective reduction and functionalization of GO could be 27

simultaneously completed during the refluxing process. The functionalization with OD groups can effectively 28

prevent the aggregation of GO during the reduction.