Brilliant Blue-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide with Excellent Stability and Solubility in Water

Abstract

π stacking and water-solubility of brilliant blue (BB) are expected to facilitate the hydrazine mediated reduction of graphene oxide (GO) in aqueous environment. Our newly-obtained BB-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (BB-rGO) exhibited excellent solubility and stability in water. The properties of BB-rGO were investigated. The results showed that the BB molecules stacked non-covalently onto the basal plane of rGO by strong π-π interactions while the sulfo groups of BB prevented the rGO from aggregation by electrostatic and steric repulsions, therefore leading to the solubility and stability of BB-rGO in aqueous dispersion.