Method for chemical modification of a graphene edge, graphene with a chemically modified edge and devices including the graphene

1. A method for chemical modification of a graphene edge, the method comprising:

dry etching a graphene sheet to provide graphene having an etched graphene edge; and

introducing a functional group at the etched graphene edge to chemically modify the graphene edge by contacting the etched graphene edge with a composition that provides hydroxide ions.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises water, an alcohol or a combination thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising contacting the etched graphene with steam.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dry etching is a physical dry etching method or a chemical dry etching method.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the dry etching is a method selected from the group consisting of oxygen plasma etching, oxygen reactive ion etching, ultraviolet ozone etching and a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

covering the graphene with an etching mask;

dry etching the graphene covered with the etching mask;

removing the etching mask; and

contacting the graphene where the etching mask is removed with water, an alcohol or a combination thereof.

7. A method for chemical modification of a graphene edge, the method comprising:

dry etching a graphene sheet to provide graphene having an etched graphene edge; and introducing a functional group at the etched graphene edge to chemically modify the graphene, wherein the functional group is at least one selected from the group consisting of —C═O, —COOH, —C—OH, —CH═O, —COO − , —COOR wherein R represents C 1 -C 6 alkyl and a combination thereof.