Dispersibility of reduced alkylamine-functionalized graphene oxides in organic solvents.

The alkylamine functionalization of graphene oxide is well known as an efficient approach to prepare reduced functionalized graphene oxide (RFGO) that is highly dispersible in organic solvents. Herein, we systematically investigated the effects of long-chain alkylamine functionalization of graphene oxide on the organic solvent dispersibility and electrical conductivity of RFGO. Three kinds of alkylamines, octylamine, dodecylamine and hexadecylamine, were chosen as functionalization agents. The alkylamine functionalization of graphene oxide was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. RFGO using octylamine exhibited the best electrical conductivity of greater than 180 S/m. All of the RFGOs had excellent dispersibility, up to 3.0 mg/mL, in organic solvents, with Hansen solubility parameters in the range of 6.3<(δ(p)+δ(h))<13.7.