Surface Functionalization of Graphene

Abstract

Due to specifi c characteristics of graphene nanosheets (GNS) and graphene oxide (GO), they are promising candidate to fabrication, integration and applications in nanodevices, sensors and actuators. In addition, for new application of GNS and GO in diff erent fi elds of science and technology, one must combine them with other new nanomaterials such as magnetic nanoparticles, carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, nanosemiconductors, quantum dots etc. However, a prerequisite of such combinations and development applications of graphene, is surface functionalization of GNS and GO. Generally, the GNS and GO functionalization is done in two ways: noncovalent and covalent functionalization. In noncovalent functionalization, a weak interaction of a π-π, van der Waals or electrostatic type is created between GO and the target matter. In covalent functionalization, the oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of graphene, including carboxylic acid groups at the edges and epoxy and hydroxyl groups of the plane, can be used for covalent bonding. Th ere are several routes to covalent functionalization of graphene: nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, condensation and addition reactions. In this chapter, the surface functionalization of graphene methods are presented and recent publications in attachment of some nanoparticles to the graphene surface are summarized and discussed.