Functionalization and Applications of Fluorinated Graphene Materials

Fluorinated graphene materials have emerged as a versatile class of two-dimensional nanomaterials in which covalent or semi-ionic carbon–fluorine bonds introduce a tunable bandgap, enhanced thermal and chemical stability, and variable hydrophobicity. Functionalisation strategies, including direct fluorination, chemical exfoliation and nucleophilic substitution, yield a spectrum of derivatives such as fluorographene, graphene acid and cyanographene, each with distinct F/C ratios and C–F bond character. Control over defect sites and radical centres allows precise tailoring of surface chemistry, while heteroatom superdoping (for example with nitrogen or boron) leverages fluorinated precursors to deliver superior electronic conductivity, catalytic activity and magnetic properties. These advances underpin applications in supercapacitors, batteries, field-effect transistors, amphiphobic coatings and biosensors, where engineered ion transport, interfacial wetting and selectivity are crucial. Ongoing efforts focus on scalable production, defect engineering and hybrid architectures to meet the demands of next-generation energy, environmental and electronic technologies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that a simple fluorination step followed by annealing with a dopant source yields unprecedented levels of heteroatom superdoping in graphene, quantum dots and nanotubes. By adjusting the degree of initial fluorination, researchers have fine-tuned nitrogen, sulfur and boron contents across a wide range, achieving significant enhancements in capacitive energy storage, oxygen-reduction kinetics and ferromagnetic responses. This approach underlines the role of C–F bonds as active precursors for high-performance functionalisation, offering a versatile platform for energy and electronic applications.

Functionalization and Applications of Fluorinated Graphene Materials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in functionalization and applications of fluorinated graphene materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Fluorinated graphene: Graphene in which fluorine atoms are bonded to the carbon lattice, altering electronic and chemical properties.

Fluorographene: A perfluorinated graphene derivative (C1F1) with a wide bandgap and high chemical stability acting as a 2D insulator.

C–F bond character: Classification of carbon–fluorine bonds as covalent, semi-ionic or ionic, influencing stability and reactivity.

F/C ratio: The atomic proportion of fluorine to carbon, controlling electronic bandgap and surface properties.

Supercapacitor electrode: A high-surface-area material that stores charge electrostatically for rapid energy delivery.

Nucleophilic substitution: A reaction mechanism where a nucleophile displaces a fluorine atom on fluorinated graphene.

Radical centre: A defect site on graphene bearing an unpaired electron, often at a fluorine vacancy, which affects chemical reactivity.

References

1. Real Time Tracking of Nanoconfined Water‐Assisted Ion Transfer in Functionalized Graphene Derivatives Supercapacitor Electrodes. Advanced Science (2024).
2. Two‐Dimensional Fluorinated Graphene: Synthesis, Structures, Properties and Applications. Advanced Science (2016).
3. Elemental superdoping of graphene and carbon nanotubes. Nature Communications (2016).
4. Reactivity of fluorographene is triggered by point defects: beyond the perfect 2D world. Nanoscale (2018).