COVALENT FUNCTIONALIZATION OF GRAPHENE DERIVATIVES FOR NOVEL CARBON INTERFACES

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon material with a unique set of properties. Since it discovery in 2004 the number of publications about this material grew really fast. In the first chapter of this work, a general introduction of these topics, an overview of this material and relevant characterization techniques is described. Chemical functionalization of graphene is a topic of paramount importance, because it allows for the fine-tuning of material’s chemical and physical properties. An additional challenge in graphene functionalization is the surface modification in a controlled way, in order to create novel carbon interfaces to introduce functional biomolecules, like DNA or proteins, which are often used in biosensors and bioelectronics. Chapter 2 discuss the exploration of conventional routes for the preparation and functionalization of graphene. With special emphasis in the underexplore aryne cycloadditions. Besides, the selection of a suitable graphene material for the setting of an electrochemical functionalization of graphene electrodes with future application as biosensor platforms. Moreover, the development of an early-stage essay biosensor of a modified graphene electrode for the electrochemical detection of oligonucleotides. By last, the study of a novel, fast and scalable non-conventional functionalization under microwave irradiation that can solve common problems of the conventional modifications of carbon materials. The present results could open a range of possibilities for the scientific community, paving the way to new functionalization protocols with fast, efficient, large-scale and green procedures to obtain more user-friendly graphene materials and to create novel organic interfaces on diverse graphene derivatives for the manufacture of future biosensors and bioelectronic devices.