Issue 30, 2015

High-quality functionalized few-layer graphene: facile fabrication and doping with nitrogen as a metal-free catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Functionalization of graphene is fundamental to facilitating its processing and offers a wide scope for advanced applications. Here we demonstrate a facile, highly efficient and mild covalent functionalization of graphene using HNO3 vapour. This results in functionalized few-layer graphene (FLG) that is high in both quantity and quality. We fully characterized the structure and defect level of functionalized FLG by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results from this analysis show the tunability of the surface oxygen functionalities of FLG achieved through controlling the oxidation temperature without affecting the major intrinsic properties of graphene. This allows for further doping for applications, for example with nitrogen as a metal-free catalyst in the oxygen reduction reaction.

Graphical abstract: High-quality functionalized few-layer graphene: facile fabrication and doping with nitrogen as a metal-free catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Mar 2015
Accepted
04 Jun 2015
First published
05 Jun 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 15444-15450

Author version available

High-quality functionalized few-layer graphene: facile fabrication and doping with nitrogen as a metal-free catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

Z. Sun, J. Masa, P. Weide, S. M. Fairclough, A. W. Robertson, P. Ebbinghaus, J. H. Warner, S. C. E. Tsang, M. Muhler and W. Schuhmann, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 15444 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA02248G

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