Covalent Functionalization of Graphene Oxide with Fructose, Starch, and Micro-Cellulose by Sonochemistry

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 13; no. 4; p. 490
• Main Authors: Cruz-Benítez, María Montserrat, Gónzalez-Morones, Pablo, Hernández-Hernández, Ernesto, Villagómez-Ibarra, José Roberto, Castro-Rosas, Javier, Rangel-Vargas, Esmeralda, Fonseca-Florido, Heidi Andrea, Gómez-Aldapa, Carlos Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.02.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Biosensors; Cellulose; Chemical reactions; Covalent bonds; Crystallization; Fourier transforms; Fructose; Grafting; Graphene; graphene oxide; Graphite; Infrared analysis; nanohybrids; Organic chemistry; organic molecules; Photoelectrons; Raman spectroscopy; Raw materials; Reaction time; Solvents; sonication; Spectroscopic analysis; Spectrum analysis; Thermogravimetric analysis; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; United States > US; Japan; organic molecules; graphene oxide; nanohybrids; ultrasound; sonication
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym13040490

In this work, we report the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) nanohybrids with starch, fructose, and micro-cellulose molecules by sonication in an aqueous medium at 90 °C and a short reaction time (30 min). The final product was washed with solvents to extract the nanohybrids and separate them from the organic molecules not grafted onto the GO surface. Nanohybrids were chemically characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy and analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These results indicate that the ultrasound energy promoted a chemical reaction between GO and the organic molecules in a short time (30 min). The chemical characterization of these nanohybrids confirms their covalent bond, obtaining a grafting percentage above 40% the weight in these nanohybrids. This hybridization creates nanometric and millimetric nanohybrid particles. In addition, the grafted organic molecules can be crystallized on GO films. Interference in the ultrasound waves of starch hybrids is due to the increase in viscosity, leading to a partial hybridization of GO with starch.