Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles/Graphene Hybrid Using 4-Mercaptobenzoyl Functionalized Graphene Nanosheets as Templates

Abstract

The authors report an effective and simple route to prepare gold nanoparticles/graphene hybrid via the way of chemical functionalization. First, graphene nanosheets were functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzonic acid via a direct Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction in a polyphosphoric acid/phosphorus pentoxide medium. Second, gold nanoparticles were prepared from the in situ reduction of gold (III) chloride trihydrate by sodium borohydride. Subsequently, gold nanoparticles were decorated on graphene surface via the well-developed Au-S chemistry. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were employed to investigate the distribution of gold nanoparticles on the surfaces of graphene nanosheets.