Strong Electronic Coupling of Graphene Nanoribbons onto Basal Plane of a Glassy Carbon Electrode

Abstract

The grafting of molecular motifs to the conductive carbon represents a promising approach toward improved hybrid materials for electrocatalytic applications. Here, we investigate the electrochemical behavior of graphene nanoribbons (GNR) deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode using π–π stacking interactions. Using the bipyrimidine moiety on the nanoribbon edges as a reporter of the proton-coupled electron transfer chemistry, we illustrate that the simple electrochemical treatment of as-deposited nanoribbon generates a hybrid material that is in strong electronic communication with the conductive support. This work shows a strategy for modifying the basal plane of carbon materials and provides a potential platform for the incorporation of catalytic metal sites via coordination through the N-functionalities of GNR.