Synthesis of graphene soluble in organic solvents by simultaneous ether-functionalization with octadecane groups and reduction

Octadecane-functionalized graphene (OD-G) soluble in organic solvents was produced by combining the Hummers process for graphite oxidation and a simultaneous ether-functionalization and reduction approach with 1-bromooctadecane in pyridine and dimethylformamide (DMF). The exfoliated OD-Gs were testified to be monolayer sheets by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The functionalization with octadecane (OD) groups and the effective deoxygenation of graphene oxide (GO) were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It is proved that the effective reduction and functionalization of GO could be simultaneously completed during the refluxing process. The functionalization with OD groups can effectively prevent the aggregation of GO during the reduction.