Characterization of Conformation and Locations of C–F Bonds in Graphene Derivative by Polarized ATR-FTIR

It is still a challenge to explore the orientation and location of chemical groups in the two-dimensional derivative of graphene. In this study, polarized attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (polarized ATR-FTIR) was employed to investigate the orientation and location of C–F groups in the corresponding graphene derivative sheets, which facilitates building a relationship between the bonding nature and fine structure. There were two types of C–F bonding, (C–F)I and (C–F)II, in fluorinated graphene sheets. It was found that (C–F)II bonds were linked at the coplanar carbon atoms in the weakly fluorinated region (CxF, x ≥ 2), whereas the (C–F)I bonds cluster at the strongly deformed carbon framework with a F/C ratio of about 1. The thermostability of (C–F)II is lower than that of (C–F)I bonds. This is because the coplanar structure of the weakly fluorinated region tends to transform to the planar aromatic ring with the breaking of the C–F bond as compared with the strong fluor...