PROCESS FOR IN-SITU FUNCTIONALIZATION OF GRAPHENE
A process for in situ functionalization of graphene including placing a graphitic precursor in an exfoliation cannister with exfoliation media; creating an inert atmosphere in the exfoliation cannister; exfoliating the graphitic precursor to form graphene having carboxyl moieties; and reacting the carboxyl moieties in the exfoliation cannister under conditions, such as a temperature of between 260 and 500° C., and in the presence of a substance to chemically reduce or react the carboxyl moieties during the exfoliating to produce hydrophobic graphene. Additionally, a process of molding an article including intermixing a thermoplastic in a molten state with hydrophobic graphene produced by an in situ functionalization process to form a dispersion of the hydrophobic graphene in the thermoplastic; injecting a melt of the dispersion of the hydrophobic graphene in the thermoplastic into a mold having a cavity complementary to the article; and allowing the melt to cool to form the article.
1 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . A method comprising:
exfoliating a graphitic precursor in a controlled gas environment to form a first graphene having carboxyl moieties; and
reducing concentration of carboxyl moieties of the first graphene in presence of a substance in the controlled gas environment to obtain a second graphene, the second graphene being more hydrophobic compared to the first graphene.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein exfoliating the graphitic precursor occurs at least partially concurrently with reducing the concentration of carboxyl moieties of the first graphene.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein reducing the concentration of carboxyl moieties of the first graphene occurs after exfoliating the graphitic precursor.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein exfoliating the graphitic precursor is via ball milling.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein reducing the concentration of carboxyl moieties of the first graphene includes at least one of chemically reducing or reacting the carboxyl moieties.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein reducing the concentration of carboxyl moieties of the first graphene includes a gas phase decarboxylation reaction.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the controlled gas environment is inert.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the controlled gas environment includes nitrogen.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the controlled gas environment is at a temperature ranging from 260° C. to 500° C.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the substance includes a catalyst.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the catalyst includes at least one of palladium, iron trichloride, or cyclohexanone.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the substance further comprises at least one of an alkane, an alkene, or an allyl.
24 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the substance includes a reagent of N-cyclohexyl-N′-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide (CMC).
25 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
forming an intermediate anhydride via reacting the carboxyl moieties of the first graphene.
26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
reacting the intermediate anhydride with a primary amine to form an amide.
27 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
mixing the second graphene with a thermoplastic in a molten state to form a dispersion of the second graphene in the thermoplastic;
injecting a melt of the dispersion of the second graphene in the thermoplastic into a mold having a cavity complementary to an article; and
allowing the melt to cool to form the article.
28 . A method comprising:
exfoliating a graphitic precursor to form a first graphene having carboxyl moieties; and
reacting carboxyl moieties of the first graphene in presence of a substance to chemically reduce or react the carboxyl moieties, thereby obtaining a second graphene, the second graphene being more hydrophobic compared to the first graphene.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein exfoliating the graphitic precursor occurs at least partially concurrently with reacting carboxyl moieties of the first graphene.
30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein reacting carboxyl moieties of the first graphene occurs after exfoliating the graphitic precursor.
31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein at least one of exfoliating the graphitic precursor or reacting carboxyl moieties of the first graphene occur in a controlled gas environment.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the controlled gas environment includes nitrogen.
33 . The method of claim 28 , wherein exfoliating the graphitic precursor is via ball milling.
34 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the substance includes a catalyst, the catalyst including at least one of palladium, iron trichloride, or cyclohexanone.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the substance further comprises at least one of an alkane, an alkene, or an allyl.
36 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
condensing the carboxyl moieties to form an intermediate anhydride.
37 . The method of claim 36 , further comprising:
reacting the intermediate anhydride to form an amide.