Rational design of fluorinated graphene-porphyrin nanoarchitectonics: integrating hydrophobicity to macromolecular heterocyclic systems

Graphene-porphyrin hybrid materials with direct assembly between the fluorinated graphene (FG) nanosheets and the pre-formed 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (THPP) units have been successfully synthesized. The structure-property, binding, and assembly of THPP over FG nanosheets were methodically analyzed by spectroscopic, microscopic, and solvent wetting techniques. The solvent wetting characteristics and surface free energy of the supportless THPP and FG-supported THPP were investigated. The decoration of porphyrin over FG ensued in a surface free energy of 28.7 mJ m(-2) directing to hydrophobic (WCA similar to 130 +/- 2 degrees) networks. Photo-physical studies demonstrated considerable non-covalent interactions between the THPP with FG multi-layers. The emission responses of THPP and FG-THPP with ferric complexes and its coordination with respect to the -philicity of the THPP were probed using photoluminescence spectroscopy. The functional groups blended in the FG-THPP inks were subjected to fuse with interconnected networks like cellulose paper and melamine sponge by exploiting the dispersion processability followed by morphology evaluation and water-wettability.

Automated summary

Graphene-porphyrin hybrid materials were successfully synthesized by direct assembly between fluorinated graphene (FG) nanosheets and pre-formed 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (THPP) units. The structure-property, binding, and assembly of THPP over FG nanosheets were analyzed, and the emission response of THPP and FG-THPP with ferric complexes was investigated.