Functionalized graphene and graphene oxide solution via polyacrylate coating

Abstract

Water soluble graphene with various chemical- and biofunctionalities is essential for their different applications. However, exfoliated graphenes are insoluble in water and water soluble graphene oxide precipitate if they are chemically reduced to graphene. We have developed a polyacrylate coating method for graphene oxide and then chemically reduced it into graphene. We found that polyacrylate coating can improve the colloidal stability of both graphene and graphene oxide. The coated graphene has been characterized using XPS, FTIR, XRD and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The primary amine present on the coating backbone has been used to derive glucose functionalized water soluble graphene. Various other functional graphenes can be anticipated from the polyacrylate coated graphene.