• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2012

Chemically modified graphene has been great interest for the application of printed electronics using solution prossesable technique. Here, we demonstrate a large area graphene exfoliation method with fewer defects on the basal plane by application of shear stress in solution to obtain high quality reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Moreover, we introduce a novel route to preparing highly concentrated and conductive RGO in various solvents by monovalent cation-${\pi}$ interaction. Noncovalent binding forces can be induced between a monopole (cation) and a quadrupole (aromatic ${\pi}$ system). The stability of this RGO dispersion was more sensitive to the strength of the cation-${\pi}$ interactions than to the cation-oxygen functional group interactions. The RGO film prepared without a post-annealing process displayed superior electrical conductivity of 97,500 S/m. Our strategy can facilitate the development of large scalable production methods for preparing printed electronics made from high-quality RGO nanosheets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.159-159
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• 2013

Atomically thin graphene is the ideal model system for studying nanoscale friction due to its intrinsic two-dimensional anisotropy. Furthermore, modulating its tribological properties could be an important milestone for graphene-based micro and nano-mechanical devices. Here, we report that the tribological properties can be easily altered via simple chemical modifications of the graphene surface. Friction force microscopy measurements show that hydrogenated, fluorinated, and oxidized graphenes exhibit, 2-, 6-, and 7-fold enhanced nanoscale friction on their surfaces, respectively, compared to pristine graphene. The measured nanoscale friction should be associated with the adhesive and elastic properties of the chemically modified graphenes. Density functional theory calculations suggest that, while the adhesive properties of chemically modified graphenes are marginally reduced down to ~30%, the out-of-plane elastic properties are drastically increased up to 800%. Based on these findings, we propose that nanoscale friction on graphene surfaces is characteristically different from that on conventional solid surfaces; stiffer graphene exhibits higher friction, whereas a stiffer three-dimensional solid generally exhibits lower friction. The unusual friction mechanics of graphene is attributed to the intrinsic mechanical anisotropy of graphene, which is inherently stiff in plane, but remarkably flexible out of plane. The out-of-plane flexibility can be modulated up to an order of magnitude by chemical treatmentof the graphene surface. The correlation between the measured nanoscale friction and the calculated out-of-plane flexibility suggests that the frictional energy in graphene is mainly dissipated through the out-of-plane vibrations, or the flexural phonons of graphene.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2011

During the last half decade, chemically modified graphene (CMG) has been studied in the wide range of applications, such as polymer composites, energy-related materials, sensors, 'paper'-like materials, field-effect transistors (FET), inks, actuators, and biomedical applications due to its excellent electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Chemical modification of graphene oxide, which is generated from graphite oxide, which is produced by simple oxidation of graphite, has been a promising route to achieve mass production of CMG platelets via their colloidal suspensions. Graphene oxide contains a range of reactive oxygen functional groups, which renders it a good candidate for use in the aforementioned applications (among others) through chemical functionalizations. In this presentation, I will discuss my recent research activities on the fundamental chemistry of graphite oxide, as well as novel applications based on CMGs. Topics will include the chemical structure of CMGs and colloidal suspensions of CMG platelets, as well as a wide variety of applications.

• Carbon letters
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• v.27
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• pp.26-34
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• 2018

To formulate folate receptor (FR)-specific graphene-based electrochemical electrodes, a folic acid (FA) derivative attached with two pyrene molecules on the glutamate tail of FA was synthesized. The resulting pyrene-functionalized FA (FA-Py) presented the spontaneous noncovalent binding on chemically reduced graphene oxides (rGO) through an ${\pi}-{\pi}$ interaction. Ultrathin morphology, high water-resistance, and preservation of intact FR-specific pteroates from the rGO/FA-Py assembly allow this assembly to be exploited as robust and FR-specific electrochemical electrode materials. The limits of detecting rGO/FA-Py modified electrodes were found to be as low as 3.07 nM in FR concentrations in cyclic voltammetry analysis.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.231-244
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• 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by modified Hummer's method to produce reduced graphene oxide (RGO) following standard thermal and chemical reduction processes. Prepared RGO colloids were utilized to fabricate RGO films over glass and FTO coated glass substrates through drop-coating. A systematic study was performed to evaluate the effect of reduction degree on the optical and electrical properties of the RGO film. We demonstrate that both the reduction process (thermal and chemical) produce RGO films of similar optical and electrical behaviors. However, the RGO films fabricated using chemically reduced GO colloid render better performance in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), when they are used as counter electrodes (CEs). It has been demonstrated that RGO films of optimum thicknesses fabricated using RGO colloids prepared using lower concentration of hydrazine reducer have better catalytic performance in DSSCs due to a better catalytic interaction with redox couple. The better catalytic performance of the RGO films fabricated at optimal hydrazine concentration is associated to their higher available surface area and lower grain boundaries.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2013

Size-sorted graphene nanoplatelets are highly desired for fundamental research and technological applications of graphene. Here we show a facile approach for fabricating size-sorted graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets by a simple centrifugal method using different dispersion solvents. We found that the small-sized GO nanoplatelets were more effectively separated when dispersed in water or dimethylformamide (DMF) than in an alkali aqueous solution. After several iterations of the centrifugation, the sizes of GO in the supernatant solution were mostly several micrometers. We found that the GO area was not strongly correlated with the C-O content of the GO dispersed in water. However, the size-sorted GO nanoplatelets in DMF showed different C-O content, since DMF can reduce GO nanoplatelets during exfoliation and centrifugation processes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.388-393
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• 2013

The study was focused to evaluate the possibility for combination membrane of bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene with high electrical properties. BC with natural polymer matrix was known to have strong physical strength. For the combination of graphene with BC, the surface of graphene was modified with oxygen plasma by changing strength and time of radio waves in room temperature. Water contact angle of modified graphene grew smaller from $130^{\circ}$ to $12^{\circ}$. XPS analysis showed that oxygen content after treatment increased from 2.99 to 10.98%. Damage degree of graphene was examined from $I_D/I_G$ ratio of Raman analysis. $I_D/I_G$ ratio of non-treated graphene (NTG) was 0.11, and 0.36 to 0.43 in plasma treated graphene (PTG), increasing structural defects of PTG. XRD analysis of PTG membrane with BC was $2{\theta}$ same to BC only, indicating chemically combined membrane. In FT-IR analysis, 1,000 to 1,300 $cm^{-1}$ (C=O) peak indicating oxygen radicals in PTG membrane had formed was larger than NTG membrane. The results suggest that BC as an alternation of plastic material for graphene combination has a possibility in some degree on the part like transparent conductive films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.422.1-422.1
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• 2016

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a new kind of carbon-based photo luminescent nanomaterial from chemically modified graphene oxide (CMGO) or chemically modified graphene (CMG), has attracted extensive research attention in the last few years due to its outstanding chemical, optical and electrical properties. To further extended its potential applications as optoelectronic devices, solar cells, bio and bio-sensors and so on, intensive research efforts have been devoted to the CMG. However, the CMG, a suspension of aqueous, have problematic since they are prone to agglomeration after drying a solvent. In this study, we synthesized the GQDs from graphite and deposited on silicon substrate by kinetic spray. The photo luminescent properties of deposited GQD films were analyzed and compared with initial GQDs suspension. In addition, its carbon properties were investigated with GQDs solution properties. The properties of deposited GQD films by kinetic spray were similar to that of the GQDs suspension in water. We could provide a pathway for silicon-based silicon based device applications. Finally, the well-adjusted GQD films with photo luminescence effects will show Energy-Down-Shift layer effects on silicon solar cells. The GQD layers deposited at nozzle scan speeds of 40, 30, 20, and 10 mm/s were evaluated after they were used to fabricate crystalline-silicon solar cells; the results indicate that GQDs play an important role in increasing the optical absorptivity of the cells. The short-circuit current density (Jsc) was enhanced by about 2.94 % (0.9 mA/cm2) at 30 mm/s. Compared to a reference device without a GQD energy-down-shift layer, the PCE of p-type silicon solar cells was improved by 2.7% (0.4 percentage points).

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2016

Two-dimensional materials offer unique characteristics for membrane applications to water technology. With its atomic thickness, availability and stackability, graphene in particular is attracting attention in the research and industrial communities. Here, we present a brief overview of the recent research activities in this rising topic with bringing two membrane architecture into focus. Pristine graphene in single- and polycrystallinity poses a unique diffusion barrier property for most of chemical species at broad ambient conditions. If well designed and controlled, physical and chemical perforation can turn this barrier layer to a thinnest feasible membrane that permits ultimate permeation at given pore sizes. For subcontinuum pores, both molecular dynamics simulations and experiments predict potential salt rejection to envisage a seawater desalination application. Another novel membrane architecture is a stack of individual layers of 2D materials. When graphene-based platelets are chemically modified and stacked, the interplanar spacing forms a narrow transport pathway capable of separation of solvated ions from pure water. Bearing unbeknownst permeance and selectivity, both membrane architecture - ultrathin porous graphene and stacked platelets - offer a promising prospect for new extraordinary membranes for water technology applications.