Exfoliation of Reduced Graphene Oxide with Self-Assembled π-Gelators for Improved Electrochemical Performance

Among several methodologies to improve the solution processing of graphene-based materials, noncovalent functionalization has been considered as the simplest and nondestructive method. Herein, we show that molecular self-assembly process can be used as a useful tool to exfoliate reduced graphene oxide (RGO), resulting in hybrid materials with improved physical properties. Upon interacting with a π-gelator, the dispersing ability of the RGO increased significantly in most of nonpolar and polar aprotic solvents when compared to the bare one. The amount of RGO dispersed was 1.7–1.8 mg mL –1 in solvents such as toluene, o -dichlorobenzene (ODCB) and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Morphological studies revealed that aggregation of π-gelator over RGO helps to exfoliate graphene layers to remain as individual sheets with higher surface area. Experimental studies revealed enhanced surface area (250 m 2 g –1 ) and better conductivity (3.7 S m –1 ) of the hybrid materials with 30% of RGO content resulting in excellent electrochemical performance (specific capacitance of 181 F g –1 ) as electrodes for supercapacitors.