Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of N,N′bis(2-phosphonoethyl)-3,4,9,10-perylenediimide (PPDI), a perylene dye substituted with phosphonic acid groups, were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates. Dye deposition was confirmed by UV−visible absorption spectroscopy and by electrochemical methods. Electrochemical characterization of the SAM was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Two reversible redox waves were observed by CV for the PPDI monolayer, corresponding to E 1/2 = −0.49 V (radical anion formation) and E 1/2 = −0.90 V (dianion formation). The effect of applied bias on the EIS response was studied, comparing a region where PPDI was not reduced (applied bias = 0 V) with a region within the redox window of the imide (applied bias = −0.6 V). The EIS results were analyzed using either impedance (Nyquist and Bode) or capacitance (Cole−Cole) diagrams. Capacitance plots were shown to be by far more sensitive to study the faradaic activity of the SAM, allowing the determination of both the pseudocapacitance (C pc ) for charging the monolayer and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k et ) from the electrode to the SAM. A molecular coverage of 7 × 10 −11 mol/cm 2 was calculated for the SAM from the pseudocapacitance. A value of k et = 41 s −1 was obtained, consistent with literature data for similar systems.

Layer-by-layer thin films with up to 11 layers of N,N′-bis­(2-phosphonoethyl)-3,4,9,10-perylenediimide (PPDI) were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates by the zirconium phosphonate method. Film growth was studied by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the films grow in a linear fashion, with the same amount of dye incorporated in each deposition cycle, and the dye molecules were π-stacked within the films. For a 10-layer film, film thickness was estimated as 20 nm, giving 2 nm per layer. Electrochemical characterization of the films was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). CV measurements showed that peak currents were proportional to the number of layers, for both the first and second reductions of PPDI. The effect of applied bias on the EIS response was studied in both the impedance (Bode plots) and capacitance (Cole–Cole plots) complex planes. The width of the semicircles in the Cole–Cole plots was proportional to the number of layers when the electrode was biased at −0.6 V, which is within the redox window for PPDI reduction. The pseudocapacitance of the films was obtained from the width of the semicircles, allowing the calculation of electroactive surface coverages and electron-transfer rates. Surface coverages of ca. 1 × 10–10 mol/cm2 per layer were obtained, whereas electron transfer rates decreased with film thickness, from 41 s–1 in a monolayer to 1.3 s–1 in a 10-layer film. The present study shows that compact PPDI films were formed, with efficient electronic coupling between the PPDI units, rendering the films attractive as electron transport layers for organic electronics.

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Graphene is a two-dimensional nanostructured material with intrinsic properties that show promising performance in various applications, including electronics, renewable energy, medicine, mechanical enforcement and others. This study reports a bottom-up approach for the conversion of cyclohexane into graphene nanoflakes, which were then deposited onto fiberglass using a non-thermal generator. The composite was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, which revealed the formation of stacked few-layer graphene with a partially disordered structure and a d-spacing of 0.358 nm between the layers. X-ray diffraction confirmed the observations from the TEM images. SEM images showed the agglomeration of carbonaceous material onto the fiberglass, which experienced some delamination due to the synthesis method. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained graphene exhibited a predominance of defects in its structure. Additionally, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses revealed the formation of graphene layers with varying levels of porosity.

This study reports a bottom-up approach for the conversion of cyclohexane into graphene nanoflakes, which were then deposited onto fiberglass using a non-thermal generator. The composite was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, which revealed the formation of stacked few-layer graphene with a partially disordered structure and a d-spacing of 0.358 nm between the layers. X-ray diffraction confirmed the observations from the TEM images. SEM images showed the agglomeration of carbonaceous material onto the fiberglass, which experienced some delamination due to the synthesis method. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained graphene exhibited a predominance of defects in its structure. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses revealed the formation of graphene layers with varying levels of porosity.