Quantification of surface functionalities on graphene, boron nitride and borocarbonitrides by fluorescence labeling

Considering the important role played by surface functionalities, we have obtained quantitative estimates of the functionalities on graphene, BN and borocarbonitrides, by employing fluorescence labeling. Thus, the surface concentrations of carbonyl, carboxylic and hydroxyl groups on the graphene surface are 2.31 × 10²⁰, 28.17 × 10²⁰ and 0.08 × 10²⁰ per gram respectively. We do not observe carbonyl groups on reduced graphene oxide. The surface concentration of the amine group on BN is 0.01 × 10²⁰ per gram. Borocarbonitrides contain amine and oxygen functionalities, with composition dependent concentrations. Supercapacitor performance and ORR activity of the borocarbonitrides are presented along with their surface areas.