Supramolecular self-assembly of layer-by-layer graphene film driven by the synergism of π–π and hydrogen bonding interaction

Abstract

In this paper an organic molecule labeled as UPPY with both π–π interaction unit of pyrene (PY) and hydrogen bonding unit of urediopyrimidinone (UP) was employed as binding module to link the layer-by-layer graphene film. Firstly, UPPY was anchored on the surface of thermal reduced graphene (trGO) with the aids of π–π interactions forming trGO-UPPY. The trGO-UPPY showed different morphology in CHCl3 and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) due to the different hydrogen binding mode. Then by the synergism of hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions offered by UPPY, multilayer film of trGO-UPPY was prepared through layer-by-layer technique. The electron-transfer resistance (Ret) of trGO-UPPY/ITO decreased from 53Ω of bare ITO to 27Ω. In addition, trGO-UPPY/ITO electrodes exhibited enhanced electrochemical activity toward dopamine (DA). Compared with bare ITO, the oxidation peak current of DA on rGO-UPPY/ITO can be enhanced about 100 times than that of bare ITO.