The disclosure relates to use of a coupling agent including of a chemical moiety that is capable of pi bonding with the basal plane of exfoliated graphene nanoparticle (EGN) platelets and that is compatible with a polymer resin or matrix into which the EGN platelets are dispersed. The chemical moiety can include one or more aromatic moieties grafted to a polymer, which polymer can form a dispersing resin or matrix.