Recent advances in the covalent modification of graphene with polymers

Abstract

Covalent binding of polymers to graphene represents an interesting alternative for the development of novel composite materials with a compendium of interfacial interactions. Through covalent linking, the concept of interface changes from a traditional view of interactions between components, such as van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, and so on, that is to say, at a polymer-filler interface, to a single compound concept where graphene forms an integral part of the polymeric chains. This feature article provides an overview of the strategies currently employed to functionalize graphene with polymers. We focus on the grafting-from and grafting-to methods used to bind polymers to graphene. The advantages and drawbacks, as well as the influence of each method on the final properties, are highlighted.