A Phytic Acid Induced Super-Amphiphilic Multifunctional 3D Graphene-Based Foam

Xinhong Song; Yiying Chen; Mingcong Rong; Zhaoxiong Xie; Tingting Zhao; Yiru Wang; Xi Chen; Otto S Wolfbeis

doi:10.1002/anie.201511064

A Phytic Acid Induced Super-Amphiphilic Multifunctional 3D Graphene-Based Foam

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016 Mar 14;55(12):3936-41. doi: 10.1002/anie.201511064. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Authors

Xinhong Song¹, Yiying Chen¹, Mingcong Rong¹, Zhaoxiong Xie², Tingting Zhao³, Yiru Wang¹, Xi Chen^{4

5}, Otto S Wolfbeis⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
³ Department of Planning, Xiamen Huaxia University, Xiamen, 361024, China.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China. xichen@xmu.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China. xichen@xmu.edu.cn.
⁶ University of Regensburg, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, 93040, Regensburg, Germany.

PMID: 26890034
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201511064

Abstract

Surfaces with super-amphiphilicity have attracted tremendous interest for fundamental and applied research owing to their special affinity to both oil and water. It is generally believed that 3D graphenes are monoliths with strongly hydrophobic surfaces. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of a 3D super-amphiphilic (that is, highly hydrophilic and oleophilic) graphene-based assembly in a single-step using phytic acid acting as both a gelator and as a dopant. The product shows both hydrophilic and oleophilic intelligence, and this overcomes the drawbacks of presently known hydrophobic 3D graphene assemblies. It can absorb water and oils alike. The utility of the new material was demonstrated by designing a heterogeneous catalytic system through incorporation of a zeolite into its amphiphilic 3D scaffold. The resulting bulk network was shown to enable efficient epoxidation of alkenes without prior addition of a co-solvent or stirring. This catalyst also can be recovered and re-used, thereby providing a clean catalytic process with simplified work-up.

Keywords: 3D graphene foams; heterogeneous catalysis; phytic acid; super-amphiphilic.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't