Electric field driven protonation/deprotonation of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid immobilized on graphene sheets via π–π stacking

The electrochemistry of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) immobilized on graphene surface (PTCA/G) via π–π stacking shows four pairs of current peaks in cyclic voltammogram. These peaks are ascribed to sequential protonation and deprotonation of carboxyl groups in PTCA. The distinct differences in four peak potentials demonstrate the existence of electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the four carboxyl groups. In addition, it is found that the kinetics for the protonation and deprotonation of PTCA/G changes from surface controlled process at low scan rate to diffusion controlled one at high scan rate.

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► The PTCA/G nanocomposite was synthesized in alkaline solutions in one step.
► Protonation/deprotonation of COOHs in PTCA results in four pairs of current peaks.
► Coupling effects between the nearest carboxylic acid groups.
► Protonation/deprotonation of PTCA/G is comparable to the proton diffusion.