Effects of Molecular Structure on the Reaction of Graphene Oxide

A study conducted by Norihiro Fukaya et al., in collaboration with the Toyota Technological Institute, was published in the Carbon.

Graphene oxide (GO), a thin sheet-like nanocarbon material, is expected to be applied as a functional thin film material for next-generation batteries and desalination devices due to its ability to impart various functions through molecular modification. Although many studies have previously discussed the modification of GO with various molecules, the mechanism of modification has been primarily empirical, lacking analytical elucidation.
In this study, experiments were conducted to modify GO using two different types of diaminobenzene sulfonic acids (DBSAs) (2,4-DBSAs and 2,5-DBSAs) with different molecular structures. In addition, the mechanism of the reaction between GO and the DBSAs as well as the differences in their reactivity caused by different molecular structures were investigated using various analytical methods and quantum science calculations. Results indicated that the instability caused by the proximity of the functional groups on DBSA enhances their reactivity with GO. These findings can contribute to technological development toward the practical application of GO.

Title: Effects of Molecular Structure on the Grafting of Diaminobenzene Sulfonic Acid onto Graphene Oxide
Authors: Fukaya, N., De Silva, KKH., Yoshimura, M., Hirai, H., Yoshida, H., Tanaka, H.
Journal Name: Carbon
Published: April 11, 2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119120