We report here a new voltammetric method for the sensitive and selective determination of Hg(2+) based on rational covalent functionalization of graphene oxide with cysteamine to form cysteamine-functionalized graphene through nucleophilic ring-opening reaction between the epoxy of graphene oxide and the amino group of cysteamine in KOH solution.

In the last decades, organic azides haven proven to be very useful precursors in organic chemistry, for example in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions (click-chemistry). Likewise, azides can be introduced into graphene oxide with an almost intact carbon framework, namely oxo-functionalized graphene (oxo-G₁), which is a highly oxidized graphene derivative and a powerful precursor for graphene th...

Graphene oxides with different surface charges were fabricated from carboxylated graphene oxide by chemical modification with amino- (-NH2), poly-m-aminobenzene sulfonic acid- (-NH2/-SO3H), or methoxyl- (-OCH3) terminated functional groups. The chemically functionalized graphene oxides and the carboxylated graphene oxide were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrosc...

We studied the local voltage drop in functionalized graphene sheets of subμm size under external bias conditions by Kelvin probe force microscopy. Using this noninvasive experimental approach, we measured ohmic current-voltage characteristics and an intrinsic conductivity of about 3.7 × 10(5) S/m corresponding to a sheet resistance of 2.7 kΩ/sq under ambient conditions for graphene produced via...

The toughness and coefficient of thermal expansion of a series of functionalized graphene sheet epoxy nanocomposites are investigated. Functionalized graphene sheets are produced by splitting graphite oxide into single graphene sheets through a rapid thermal expansion process. These graphene sheets contain ~ 10% oxygen due to the presence of hydroxide, epoxide, and carboxyl functional groups wh...

Through the amide formation between amine-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and oxygen-containing groups (e.g., epoxy and carboxyl groups) in graphene oxide (GO), we have synthesized POSS-functionalized graphene nanosheets (POSS-graphene), which are highly soluble in various organic solvents attractive for multifunctional applications. Thin films from solution casting o...

Membranes with atomic level pores or constrictions are valuable for separation and catalysis. We report a graphene-based membrane with an interlayer spacing of 3.7 angstrom (Å). When graphene oxide nanoplates are functionalized and then reduced, the laminated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoplates or functionalized rGO membrane is little affected by an intercalated fluid, and the interlayer sp...

Nitrogen functionalization of graphene offers new hybrid materials with improved performance for important technological applications. Despite studies highlighting the dependence of the performance of nitrogen-functionalized graphene on the types of nitrogen functional groups that are present, precise synthetic control over their ratio is challenging. Herein, the synthesis of nitrogen-functiona...

We have proved that functionalized nanoscale graphene oxide can protect oligonucleotides from enzymatic cleavage and efficiently deliver oligonucleotides into cells.

A thiol-functionalized magnetite/graphene oxide (MGO) hybrid as an adsorbent of Hg2+ was successfully synthesized by a two-step reaction. It exhibited a higher adsorption capacity compared to the bare graphene oxide and MGO due to the combined adsorption of thiol groups and magnetite nanocrystals. Its capacity reached 289.9 mg g-1 in a solution with an initial Hg2+ concentration of 100 mg l-1. ...