Tuning the graphene oxide chemistry by excimer formation: The stabilization of electron/hole pair on sp² surface

A new material formed by graphene oxide and a perylene diimide derivate was successfully synthesized and applied for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The perylene diimide was modified with APTES in a simple chemical method to force excimer formation. The new material showed to be capable of stabilizing the electron/ hole pair initiated by perylene diimides excimers formed after excitation in the visible range. Theoretical calculations show that the structures in which GO is perpendicular to the perylene core are more prompt to form the anion radical than pure GO, indicating that perpendicular excimers could play an important role in stabilizing electrons. This way, efficient removal of 90 % of methylene blue was observed since the mechanism of photodegradation of a dye depends on the efficient separation and mobility of carriers.