title: A Phytic Acid Induced Super-Amphiphilic Multifunctional 3D Graphene-Based Foam.
abstract: Surfaces with super-amphiphilicity have attracted tremendous interest for fundamental and applied research owing to their special affinity to both oil and water. It is generally believed that 3D graphenes are monoliths with strongly hydrophobic surfaces. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of a 3D super-amphiphilic (that is, highly hydrophilic and oleophilic) graphene-based assembly in a single-step using phytic acid acting as both a gelator and as a dopant. The product shows both hydrophilic and oleophilic intelligence, and this overcomes the drawbacks of presently known hydrophobic 3D graphene assemblies. It can absorb water and oils alike. The utility of the new material was demonstrated by designing a heterogeneous catalytic system through incorporation of a zeolite into its amphiphilic 3D scaffold. The resulting bulk network was shown to enable efficient epoxidation of alkenes without prior addition of a co-solvent or stirring. This catalyst also can be recovered and re-used, thereby providing a clean catalytic process with simplified work-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
authors.forename: Xinhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yiying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
authors.forename: Mingcong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoxiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Planning, Xiamen Huaxia University, Xiamen, 361024, China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yiru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China. xichen@xmu.edu.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China. xichen@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: University of Regensburg, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, 93040, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Otto S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Wolfbeis
keywords: 3D graphene foams; heterogeneous catalysis; phytic acid; super-amphiphilic