title: Sonochemical preparation of functionalized graphenes.
abstract: A convenient sonochemical method is described for the preparation of polystyrene functionalized graphenes starting from graphite flakes and a reactive monomer, styrene. Ultrasonic irradiation of graphite in styrene results in the mechanochemical exfoliation of graphite flakes to single-layer and few-layer graphene sheets combined with functionalization of the graphene with polystyrene chains. The polystyrene chains are formed from sonochemically initiated radical polymerization of styrene and can make up to ~18 wt % of the functionalized graphene, as determined by thermal gravimetric analysis. This one-step protocol can be generally applied to the functionalization of graphenes with other vinyl monomers for graphene-based composite materials.
authors: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors: Hangxun
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Kenneth S
authors: KS
authors: Suslick