Abstract
We describe the mechanism of graphene fluorination by XeF2, calculated here by a periodic plane-wave DFT. We find that the fluorination of graphene proceeds by simultaneous bonding of two F atoms from XeF2 via transition states that interact a bit asymmetrically with the graphene surface. The fluorination of graphene occurs at the (1, 4) positions of the constituent phenyl ring, eventually covering 25% of the graphene C atoms. Bonding to other positions involves large reaction barriers. We also elucidate the origin of experimental observations (Robinson, J. T.; et al. Nano Lett.2010, 10, 3001) of 100% saturation with F when both sides are allowed to react with XeF2. We find that fluorination at one side facilitates the bonding of F at the (1, 2) position on the other side of graphene by significantly lowering the activation barrier of fluorination, indicating that successive (1, 2) additions eventually lead to 100% coverage of graphene by F. We also discuss the effects of a defect on the graphene surface,...
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