Preparation of non-covalently functionalized graphene using 9-anthracene carboxylic acid

A simple way of achieving stable aqueous dispersion of graphene by non-covalent functionalization using 9-anthracene carboxylic acid has been successfully accomplished. Unlike in chemically reduced graphene, the C-sp ² network of the graphene remains undistorted and therefore of superior quality. The non-covalent functionalization facilitates the exfoliation of graphite layers in a polarity controlled combination of media. A detailed exfoliation mechanism is proposed based on the controlled experiment and is supported by the data from UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction studies. Formation of monolayer graphene has been confirmed from Raman spectroscopy. The graphene based ultracapacitor shows a high value of specific capacitance (148Fg^{- 1}).