Catechol adsorption on graphene nanoplatelets: isotherm, flat to vertical phase transition and desorption kinetics

The adsorption of catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) on graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) is investigated electrochemically and spectroscopically. The reversible adsorption of catechol on GNPs is Langmuirian with an adsorption constant of (0.2 +/- 0.002) mM(-1) at low adsorbate concentrations (<= 100 mM). At higher concentrations (>100 mM) the adsorption of catechol on GNPs is shown to undergo a flat to vertical concentration driven phase transition. The kinetics of desorption are measured with a single particle electrochemical technique. The study of individual impacts allows the determination of the rate of catechol desorption from GNPs to be k = 0.08 +/- 0.01 s(-1) with first order kinetics. The method provides a powerful and efficient generic approach to study adsorption and, importantly, desorption of molecules on nanomaterials, as well as giving insight into the modification process.