The Potential of Perylene Bisimide Derivatives for the Solubilization of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes and graphene are outstanding materials of the 21st century with a broad spectrum of applications. However, major challenges are faced such as the intrinsically low solubility of both sp2 carbon allotropes. To overcome this hurdle the potential of noncovalent functionalization is summarized with a special focus on the establishment of the perylene bisimide unit as aromatic anchor to the graphitic surface. Rational surfactant design is unmasked as the key to solubilization of the carbon allotropes, while at the same time tailoring their surface properties, or even electronic properties in a fully reversible fashion.

Quantitative evaluation of delamination of graphite by wet media milling

“…In comparison with the oxidative route the surfactant-or solvent-assisted graphite exfoliation is much easier to handle and offers a process route for graphene production under mild conditions [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. Single Layer Graphene and FLG have been produced by ultrasound-assisted graphite exfoliation in aqueous media in the presence of surfactants or in surfactant-free organic solvents [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. The ultrasound-assisted wet chemical graphite exfoliation is simple and yields graphene flakes of good quality.…”

MWCNT/perylene bisimide water dispersions for miniaturized temperature sensors

“…[15][16][17][18] PBI was found to constitute an exceptionally well-suited anchor unit to the sp 2 carbon network of CNTs and allowed their effective dispersion in solution. 17,19,20 In this process, the energy dissipated with sonication disassemble CNT bundles that are immediately surrounded by PBI molecules that bind via strong π-π interactions and prevent rebundling. PBIs are widely used as pigments and dyes, with colors ranging from red to black depending on the particle size and crystal packing of the dye molecules.…”

Reduced graphene oxide synthesis by high energy ball milling

“…In these works, molecular adsorption on the graphene surface is used as a key strategy which leads to compensation of the van der Waals attraction between the graphene sheets [22]. In the first work [20], the basal plane functionalization has been avoided and individual graphene planes got edge functionalized by highly energetic carboxylates (-COOÀ).…”