Characterization of High Yield Graphene Oxide Synthesized by Simplified Hummers Method

Kayode Oladele Olumurewa,Oladepo Fasakin,Ezekiel Oladele Bolarinwa Ajayi,Marcus Adebola Eleruja,Bolutife Olofinjana

doi:10.4236/graphene.2017.64007

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) was chemically synthesized from natural flake graphite (NFG) using the simplified Hummers method. The synthesis was carried out using two routes. The first route involved stirring the one pot mixture continuously for three days at ambient temperature while the second route involved stirring another one pot mixture for six days also at ambient temperature. The two GOs were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman Spectroscopy and UV-Visible Spectrometry. The FTIR spectra showed introduction of oxygen functionalities in both GO with a higher degree of oxidation in the 6-day synthesized GO while the EDX confirmed the presence of carbon and oxygen in the GOs. The SEM micrograph gave the typical wrinkle and crumpling present in the 3-day synthesized GO while the 6-day synthesized GO showed distortion in structures. The Raman spectra showed a slightly higher ID/IG ratio for the 3-day synthesized GO with the 6-day synthesized GO showing a greater disruption of the sp2 domains. The extended period of stirring and oxidation increased the band gap of the 6-day synthesized GO to 3.0 eV unlike the 3-day synthesized GO where 2.5 eV was observed.

Highlights

Graphene is a versatile two-dimensional material with various applications ranging from electronic devices to biological devices [1]
The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed introduction of oxygen functionalities in both Graphene oxide (GO) with a higher degree of oxidation in the 6-day synthesized GO while the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of carbon and oxygen in the GOs
For the 6-day synthesized GO the absence of a sp2 CH and a C=O band confirms that a longer period of oxidation destroys the sp2 network on the GO

Summary

Introduction

Graphene is a versatile two-dimensional material with various applications ranging from electronic devices to biological devices [1]. It is a nanoscale allotrope of carbon rolled into one-dimensional nanotubes or folded into ze-. Chemical oxidation of graphite is the most utilized synthesis method for graphene oxide (GO) [1] and the process introduces functional groups such as carbonyl, hydroxyl and peroxyl in between carbon layers of graphite [5]. Graphene oxide (GO) can be produced using inexpensive graphite as raw material through the chemical method which is cost-effective [6]. The process involves oxidation of graphite and exfoliating into monolayers or few layered stacks of GO [4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion