Facile coordinating decoration of salophen Al on graphene nanosheet: Salophen Al complex functionalized graphene nanocomposite with electrochemical properties

Salophen Al complex functionalized graphene (SCFG) nanocomposite was synthesized by simple coordination of phenol functionalized graphene (PFG) and as-prepared salophen Al complex. This process is facile, convenient and high efficient. We also investigated the structure, optical properties and electrochemical properties of the obtained SCFG composites. The results showed that salophen Al conjugated and incorporated onto the graphene sheet surface and the composites maintained the micro-structure of graphene sheets without agglomeration. The photoluminescence of salophen Al was completely quenched by graphene, due to the charge transfer between the salophen Al and the graphene nanosheets. Moreover, a significant electrochemical signal emerged on the SCFG modified electrodes compared with those of the graphene sheets or salophen Al complex. Owing to preliminary results of the excellent electrochemical property, SCFG nanocomposite is a promising electrochemical redox probe material. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.