Light-enhanced liquid-phase exfoliation and current photoswitching in graphene–azobenzene composites

Markus Döbbelin, Artur Ciesielski (), Sébastien Haar, Silvio Osella, Matteo Bruna, Andrea Minoia, Luca Grisanti, Thomas Mosciatti, Fanny Richard, Eko Adi Prasetyanto, Luisa De Cola, Vincenzo Palermo, Raffaello Mazzaro, Vittorio Morandi, Roberto Lazzaroni, Andrea C. Ferrari, David Beljonne and Paolo Samorì ()
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Markus Döbbelin: Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Artur Ciesielski: Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Sébastien Haar: Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Silvio Osella: Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials, University of Mons
Matteo Bruna: Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge
Andrea Minoia: Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials, University of Mons
Luca Grisanti: Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials, University of Mons
Thomas Mosciatti: Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Fanny Richard: Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Eko Adi Prasetyanto: Laboratory of Supramolecular Biomaterials and Chemistry, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Luisa De Cola: Laboratory of Supramolecular Biomaterials and Chemistry, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS
Vincenzo Palermo: ISOF-CNR
Raffaello Mazzaro: IMM-CNR Sezione di Bologna
Vittorio Morandi: IMM-CNR Sezione di Bologna
Roberto Lazzaroni: Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials, University of Mons
Andrea C. Ferrari: Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge
David Beljonne: Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials, University of Mons
Paolo Samorì: Nanochemistry Laboratory, ISIS & icFRC, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Multifunctional materials can be engineered by combining multiple chemical components, each conferring a well-defined function to the ensemble. Graphene is at the centre of an ever-growing research effort due to its combination of unique properties. Here we show that the large conformational change associated with the trans–cis photochemical isomerization of alkyl-substituted azobenzenes can be used to improve the efficiency of liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite, with the photochromic molecules acting as dispersion-stabilizing agents. We also demonstrate reversible photo-modulated current in two-terminal devices based on graphene–azobenzene composites. We assign this tuneable electrical characteristics to the intercalation of the azobenzene between adjacent graphene layers and the resulting increase in the interlayer distance on (photo)switching from the linear trans-form to the bulky cis-form of the photochromes. These findings pave the way to the development of new optically controlled memories for light-assisted programming and high-sensitive photosensors.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11090

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