Synthesis and self-assembly of a PEGylated-graphene aerogel

In the frame of this work, we present, for the first time, the synthesis and self-assembly of an aerogel built by graphene oxide-polyethylene glycol. The synthetic route involves at first the coupling of GO with an amino-terminated polyethylene glycol sample by carbodiimide in aqueous environment, and the subsequent conversion of the hydrogel achieved into an aerogel via freeze-drying. The 3D PEGylated graphene-based aerogel, characterized by spectroscopic, morphological, structural and mechanical analyses, displays an ultralight and highly porous (99.7%) network and possesses high mechanical properties together with a good biocompatibility.