Facile synthesis of graphene oxide sheet-immobilized perylene diimide radical anion salt and its optical response to different solvents and pH values

Graphene oxide/reduced perylene diimide radical anion hybrid (GO/rSFPDI) with high dispersibility in polar organic solvents has been flexibly developed using N , N ′-diethylhexyl-1-bromo-7-pentafluorophenox-perylene diimide (SFPDI). The interaction of the GO with the SFPDI suggested the catalysis of perylene diimide (SFPDI) to reduced perylene diimide radical anion (rSFPDI). The successful preparation of GO/rSFPDI was confirmed via FT-IR, Raman, UV–Vis absorption spectrum, XRD, and SEM. Compared to the two neutral SFPDI and GO, GO/rSFPDI exhibited a novel lower energy electronic transition (max. at 700 nm) in addition to the solvatochromism and characteristics of spectral response to pH. Moreover, the fluorescence emission spectrum of GO/rSFPDI shows strong fluorescence quenching in dilute solution.