Self-organization of Zr(IV) porphyrinoids on graphene oxide surfaces by axial metal coordination.

The protruding oxophilic central metal ion of Zr(IV) porphyrinoids facilitates axial coordination to the oxygen bearing functional groups on graphene oxide (GO) surfaces to result in new supramolecular photonic materials with high dye loading especially on edges and large defects. The reaction proceeds at room temperature with GO dispersed in tetrahydrofuran and GO films on glass. Since the Zr(IV) serves as a conduit, the photophysical properties of the dye sensitized GO derive from both the axially bound chromophores and the GO substrate. Self-organization of metalloporphyrinoids on GO mediated by axial coordination of group (IV) metal ions allows for direct sensitization of graphene and graphenic materials without requiring covalent chemistries with poorly conducting linkers.