Graphene–terpyridine complex hybrid porous material for carbon dioxide adsorption

A graphene-based porous material for carbon dioxide sorption was designed and fabricated through an azide–alkyne click reaction between alkynyl group modified graphene oxide (alkynyl-GO) and azido-terpyridine complex. In the preparation of graphene terpyridine complex hybrid porous materials (GTCF), alkynyl-GO sheets were synthesized and used as the building blocks, which were then cross-linked with azido-terpyridine complexes through a copper (I) ion-catalyzed click reaction (Huisgen cycloaddition reaction). The incorporation of the non-planar terpyridine complexes between graphene sheets increases the porosity in the GTCF materials. Meanwhile, three kinds of nitrogen-containing groups (amine, triazole, and terpyridine groups) were introduced or formed during the modification and cross-linking, which offer more basic sites for the acidic gas sorption. Gas sorption analysis shows that the GTCF hybrid porous materials possess high specific surface area and their carbon dioxide capacity could reach up to 11.7 wt.% at 273 K.