Exploring the insertion of ethylenediamine and bis(3-aminopropyl)amine into graphite oxide

Abstract

The influence of ethylenediamine and bis(3-aminopropyl)amine insertion into graphite oxide using toluene and ethanol–water media was studied by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, temperature-programmed desorption and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. In every case, amine was incorporated between the basal planes and on the edges of the material through different interactions with epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl and carbonyl groups resulting in new-layered materials. Results show that incorporation was homogeneous for ethylenediamine irrespective of the solvent and that the higher level of intercalation in non-polar media was probably a consequence of the inhibition of competitive reactions with the solvent. For bis(3-aminopropyl)amine, the higher reaction times required to obtain satisfactory degrees of intercalation in the non-polar solvent suggests that with this solvent the process is kinetically controlled for longer chain amines.