Enhanced thermal stability in graphene oxide covalently functionalized with 2-amino-4,6-didodecylamino-1,3,5-triazine

In this study 2-amino-4,6-didodecylamino-1,3,5-triazine (ADDT) was synthesized from cyanuric chloride and covalently functionalized onto graphene oxide nanosheets. The chemical structure of the alkylated melamine and the functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were characterized with 1H NMR, FT-IR, XPS, TGA and TEM. The results indicate that two chlorine atoms on the triazine ring of cyanuric chloride were substituted by two long alkyl chains. Covalent functionalization of ADDT onto the graphene oxide nanosheets was confirmed with both FT-IR and XPS results. The reduced mass loss rate along with enhanced residue formation (TGA results) indicates significant improvement in thermal stability for GO-ADDT compared to GO. Moreover good solubility of GO-ADDT in organic solvents suggests the potential of GO-ADDT as a nanoadditive for polymeric systems.