Graphene oxide sheets transferring between water and oil.

Liquid Crystal Breakthrough: Graphene Oxide Gets a Non-Polar Makeover

Author's portrait.
Jordan Keane in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Scientists have discovered a way to manipulate graphene oxide liquid crystals, opening doors to advanced materials and applications."


Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material, has captivated scientists with its remarkable properties, paving the way for innovations in electronics, mechanics, and thermal applications. However, harnessing the full potential of graphene requires overcoming challenges in its production and dispersion. One promising avenue involves graphene oxide (GO), a derivative of graphene that can be chemically exfoliated in liquid phases, offering a pathway to large-scale production of graphene sheets.

GO possesses unique characteristics, including high colloidal stability in water due to the electrostatic repulsion of negatively charged oxygen groups. Notably, GO can form liquid crystal (LC) phases in water, presenting exciting opportunities for creating advanced 2D graphene-based composites. The challenge, however, lies in extending these LC phases to organic solvents, especially non-polar ones, which are crucial for various applications.

Recent scientific advancements have introduced a novel technique using poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) to facilitate the dispersion of graphene oxide liquid crystals (GOLCs) from aqueous solutions into non-polar organic phases. This groundbreaking approach not only broadens the range of solvents in which GOLCs can exist but also opens new possibilities for material design and application.

The Science Behind the Breakthrough

Graphene oxide sheets transferring between water and oil.

The key innovation involves using poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), specifically a novel PIL called [PEP-MIM]DBS, to act as a phase-transfer agent. This agent enables the transportation of GO from water to organic solvents, all while preserving the GOLC phase. The PIL works by noncovalently interacting with GO, effectively decorating the GO nanosheets and preventing them from aggregating. This is crucial because once water is removed from GO, the sheets tend to clump together due to electrostatic and π-π interactions, making it difficult to redisperse them in organic solvents.

The [PEP-MIM]DBS molecule contains both cationic imidazole groups and anionic dodecyl benzene sulfonate groups. This unique structure allows it to interact with both the polar GO sheets and the non-polar organic solvent. The PIL essentially acts as a bridge, facilitating the transfer of GO from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. This process expands the number of solvents known to support GOLC phases, including dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and importantly, non-polar solvents like dichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane, and tetrachloroethane.

  • Overcoming Aggregation: PILs prevent GO sheets from clumping together in non-polar solvents.
  • Expanding Solvent Options: Previously limited to polar solvents, GOLCs can now exist in non-polar environments.
  • Non-Covalent Interaction: The PILs interact with GO without forming strong chemical bonds, preserving the GO's structure.
  • Versatile Applications: This method opens doors to new material designs and applications for graphene-based composites.
The process of transferring GO from water to chloroform using [PEP-MIM]DBS is visually striking. When the GO aqueous solution is mixed with chloroform, the GO nanosheets initially stay in the water phase. However, with the addition of [PEP-MIM]DBS, the GO is clearly extracted into the chloroform phase, leaving the water phase colorless. This indicates a strong interaction between [PEP-MIM]DBS and GO, even at the interface between the two immiscible liquids.

The Future of Graphene Oxide

This research marks a significant step forward in graphene oxide research, providing a practical method to prepare non-polar solvent-soluble GO sheets that can form LCs. By using PILs to decorate the GO sheets, scientists can now explore a wider range of applications for these materials, potentially leading to breakthroughs in areas such as advanced electronics, sensors, and composite materials. The ability to manipulate GO in non-polar solvents opens up new avenues for creating innovative materials with tailored properties and functionalities.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/02678292.2018.1515374, Alternate LINK

Title: Poly(Ionic Liquid)S As Phase-Transporter For Graphene Oxide Liquid Crystals From Aqueous To Non-Polar Organic Phase Via Noncovalent Functionalization

Subject: Condensed Matter Physics

Journal: Liquid Crystals

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Yuan Liang, Yuwei Chen, Peng Wei, Yanping Wang, Yimin Wang, Yumin Xia

Published: 2018-10-23

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is graphene oxide, and why is it considered a promising material?

Graphene oxide (GO) is a derivative of graphene that can be chemically exfoliated in liquid phases. This exfoliation offers a pathway to produce large-scale graphene sheets. GO is characterized by its high colloidal stability in water due to the electrostatic repulsion of negatively charged oxygen groups, and it can form liquid crystal (LC) phases in water, which is valuable for creating advanced 2D graphene-based composites.

2

How do poly(ionic liquid)s facilitate the dispersion of graphene oxide liquid crystals in non-polar solutions?

Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), particularly [PEP-MIM]DBS, are used to disperse graphene oxide liquid crystals (GOLCs) from aqueous solutions into non-polar organic phases. The [PEP-MIM]DBS acts as a phase-transfer agent, transporting GO from water to organic solvents while preserving the GOLC phase. It interacts noncovalently with GO, preventing aggregation by effectively decorating the GO nanosheets.

3

What structural features of [PEP-MIM]DBS enable its function as a phase-transfer agent for graphene oxide?

The [PEP-MIM]DBS molecule contains cationic imidazole groups and anionic dodecyl benzene sulfonate groups. This unique structure enables it to interact with both the polar graphene oxide (GO) sheets and the non-polar organic solvent. The PIL essentially acts as a bridge, facilitating the transfer of GO from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. This expansion includes solvents like dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and non-polar solvents like dichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane, and tetrachloroethane.

4

What challenges exist in dispersing graphene oxide in non-polar solvents, and how do poly(ionic liquid)s address them?

Without poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), graphene oxide (GO) sheets tend to clump together in non-polar solvents due to electrostatic and π-π interactions once water is removed. The PILs prevent this aggregation by non-covalently interacting with the GO, effectively decorating the nanosheets and allowing them to disperse in solvents they normally couldn't.

5

What are the potential future applications of graphene oxide materials enabled by this method of dispersion in non-polar solvents?

This innovation could lead to breakthroughs in areas such as advanced electronics, sensors, and composite materials. By manipulating graphene oxide (GO) in non-polar solvents using poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), scientists can create innovative materials with tailored properties and functionalities, potentially revolutionizing material design and application.

Newsletter Subscribe

Subscribe to get the latest articles and insights directly in your inbox.