Amphiphilic Graphene Aerogel with High Oil and Water Adsorption Capacity and High Contact Area for Interface Reaction

Aerogel is a kind of novel material used to create an amphiphilic surface because of its 3D network structure and functional pore feature. Amphiphilic aerogel can be used as an excellent candidate for the supporter of interface reaction. Hydrophilic domains are highly distributed on the hydrophobic surface, which is beneficial for the two phases to come in contact with each other. In the present work, an amphiphilic graphene-based aerogel (EDGA) is cross-linked by ethylenebis(nitrilodimethylene)tetraphosphonic acid. The EDGA shows high mass adsorption capacity of both oil and water recyclability. The EDGA is used as a supporter of interface reaction. First, we decorate the nanocatalyst on the hydrophilic domain of the EDGA beneficial for its amphiphilicity. Then, this nanocatalyst-loaded EDGA is used as the supporter of the interface polymerization. This kind of a catalyst shows high efficiency for C-H activation. The synthesis strategy can extend the application scope of the multifunctional graphene-based aerogel.