Caffeine as a source for nitrogen doped graphene, and its functionalization with silver nanowires in-situ

Daniel Ramirez-Gonzalez, José de J. Cruz-Rivera, Hugo Tiznado, Ángel G. Rodriguez, Iván Guillen-Escamilla and Adalberto Zamudio-Ojeda

Abstract

In this work, we report the use of caffeine as an alternative source of nitrogen to successfully dope graphene (quaternary 400.6 eV and pyridinic at 398 eV according XPS), as well as the growth of silver nanowires (in-situ) in the surface of nitrogen doped graphene (NG) sheets. We used the improved graphene oxide method (IGO), chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GOx), and impregnation with caffeine as source of nitrogen for doping and subsequently, silver nanowires (NW) grow in the surface by the reduction of silver salts in the presence of NG, achieving a numerous of growth of NW in the graphene sheets. As supporting experimental evidence, the samples were analyzed using conventional characterization techniques: SEM-EDX, XRD, FT-IR, micro RAMAN, TEM, and XPS.

Key Words

caffeine; nitrogen-doping; graphene; nanowires; functionalization; pyridinic; monolayer; synthesis; carbon nanostructures; nanomaterials

Address

(1) Daniel Ramirez-Gonzalez: Posgrado Fis. Mat. CU Valles, Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Guadalajara-Ameca Km. 45.5, 46600 Ameca Jalisco, México; (2) José de J. Cruz-Rivera: Instituto de Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, Lomas de San Luis, San Luis Potosí, México; (3) Hugo Tiznado: CNyN Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada km107, Playitas, 22860 Ensenada, Baja California, México; (4) Ángel G. Rodriguez: CIACYT-CARIEM, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Col. Lomas 2a., 78210 San Luis, San Luis Potosí, México; (5) Iván Guillen-Escamilla: Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, CU Valles, Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Guadalajara-Ameca Km. 45.5, 46600 Ameca Jalisco, México; (6) Adalberto Zamudio-Ojeda: Departamento de Física, CUCEI, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Gral. Marcelino Garcia Barragán 1421, Olímpica, 44430 Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.

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