A film-forming graphene/diketopyrrolopyrrole covalent hybrid with far-red optical features: Evidence of photo-stability

A dianiline derivative of a symmetric donor-acceptor-donor diketopyrrolopyrrole-based dye is employed for the two-sided covalent functionalization of liquid exfoliated few layers graphene flakes, through a direct arylation reaction. The resulting nanohybrid features the properties of a polymeric species, being solution-processed into homogeneous thin films, featuring a pronounced red-shift of the main absorption band with respect to the model dye unit and energy levels comparable to those of common diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymers. A good electrical conductivity and the absence of radical signals generated after intense white light illumination, as probed through electron paramagnetic resonance, suggest a possible future application of this composite material in the field of photoprotective, antistatic layers with tunable colors.