Synthesis and characterization of a graphene–C60 hybrid material

A graphene–C60 hybrid material has been synthesized using a chemical coupling method between graphene oxide and pyrrolidine fullerene. The formation of this hybrid material was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy suggests a strong interaction between the C60 cage and the graphene sheet. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates that one C60 molecule is covalently attached for every ∼130 carbon atoms of the graphene–C60.