A method for selective bromination of graphene and its use for subsequent functionalization with aromatic molecules. (12th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiaorong, Zou; Yanan, Lv; Cheng-an, Tao; Hui, Zhu; Lin, Xia; Jianfang, Wang
• Is Part Of: Materials research express. Volume 4:Number 4(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-04-12
• Subjects: graphene -- bromination -- 1, 3-dibromo-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin -- Suzuki-coupling reaction; Materials science -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aa6883
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1591

Abstract

Abstract: A novel method for selective bromination of graphene was proposed. The reduced graphene oxide (denoted as graphene) used as the raw material, was brominated with 1, 3-dibromo-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin in the mixture of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and CH2 Cl2 at room temperature. The success of bromination was confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, it was found that the bromine concentration of the brominated graphene increased up to 10% Br/C with increasing bromination duration for the first 24 h; then the concentration unexpectedly decreased. The brominated graphene was further functionalized with 4-pyridinyl boronic acid through the Suzuki-coupling reaction. The atomic concentration of Br greatly decreased, whereas the atomic concentration of N increased significantly. This indicated that the functionalization was successful. This proposed bromination method is easy and well-suited for graphene and its derivatives. Additionally, the brominated graphene can be a starting material for constructing other graphene-based functional materials.