Azo addition to exfoliated graphene: a facile and high yield route to functionalized graphene

Abstract

A facile and high yield method for the covalent functionalization of graphene through the free radical addition of a commercially available polymerization initiator, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), has been successfully realized. The obtained material was determined to have 1 isobutyronitrile group substituent per 50 carbon atoms.