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The Potential of Perylene Bisimide Derivatives for the Solubilization of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
Author(s) -
Backes Claudia,
Hauke Frank,
Hirsch Andreas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201100300
Subject(s) - perylene , carbon nanotube , graphene , materials science , nanotechnology , solubilization , carbon fibers , surface modification , solubility , carbon chain , selective chemistry of single walled nanotubes , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , molecule , nanotube , optical properties of carbon nanotubes , chemistry , composite material , composite number , biochemistry , engineering
Carbon nanotubes and graphene are outstanding materials of the 21 st century with a broad spectrum of applications. However, major challenges are faced such as the intrinsically low solubility of both sp 2 carbon allotropes. To overcome this hurdle the potential of noncovalent functionalization is summarized with a special focus on the establishment of the perylene bisimide unit as aromatic anchor to the graphitic surface. Rational surfactant design is unmasked as the key to solubilization of the carbon allotropes, while at the same time tailoring their surface properties, or even electronic properties in a fully reversible fashion.