Controlling the local chemical reactivity of graphene through spatial functionalization

Spatial distribution of nitrogen functional groups on graphene by use of physical masks during plasma processing is demonstrated. Structural and chemical modifications are evidenced by micro-Raman and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy mapping, demonstrating a strong dependence on the processing conditions and physical mask configurations. The resulting nitrogen chemical moieties influence the electronic transport by affecting the mobility of carriers and consequently increasing the electron transfer kinetics, which provide localized chemical reactive sites. The chemical moieties demonstrate the ability to tailor the locality of the surface chemistry on graphene opening up a wide range of reactivity studies and synthesis capabilities, such as site-specific electrochemical deposition.