Potassium reduced graphite functionalization: Architectural aesthetics and electrical excellence

Abstract

Rational functionalization plays an important role to push forward graphene applications in multifarious cutting-edge technologies. A key topic that how to program the regular distribution of functional groups, however, remains a big challenge. Herein, we developed a very simple, high-throughput graphite reduction methodology to attain the negatively-charged graphene which carried ultrahigh-density and evenly-distributed negative charges. Guided by these negative charges, electrophiles were regularly attached to graphene sheets. On the other hand, potassium reduction will not break the carbon-carbon σ-bonds, hence graphene hexagonal lattice was kept as perfect as the pristine pattern. Structural advantages of the negatively-charged graphene derivatives allowed a far more excellent conductivity and electron mobility than the counterparts derived from the prevalent graphene oxide precursor.