Selective Functionalization of Graphene Peripheries by using Bipolar Electrochemistry

We present a contactless strategy based on bipolar electrochemistry for the local chemical modification of monolayer graphene sheets supported on a substrate. Specifically, peripheral graphene regions are directly modified by copper nanoparticles, the characteristics of which are controllable through the bipolar deposition parameters. This functionalization route provides access to hybrid monolayer graphene modified, for example, with two different metals on opposing peripheries. The presented strategy constitutes a new way to functionalize graphene and an avenue for systematically studying bipolar electrochemistry at the nanoscale.