A facile synthesis of graphene–metal (Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn) sulfide composites

We propose a general approach for the preparation of graphene-metal sulfide quantum dots (QDs) composites by π–π stacking of pyridine-capped metal sulfide QDs and chemically converted graphene (CCG) in aqueous solution. CCG sheets disperse stably in water without the assistance of dispersing agents, only by electrostatic repulsion. The aromatic structures of pyridine capped on metal sulfide QDs make these QDs dispersible in ethanol or water, and further introduce a π–π stacking interaction between CCG and QDs, and extend the conjugated structure of CCG. The structural details, formation mechanism, and textural properties of the resultant graphene-metal sulfide QDs composites are characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV–vis absorption, electron microscopy, and Raman scattering studies. The CCG–metal sulfide composites disperse stably in aqueous solution, allowing them to be potentially used in biological tissues and easy-to-form filtered films for further research and application.