Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) is not only an intermediate in top-down graphene preparation, but it is also acknowledged for its convenient application when the hydrophobicity of graphene is a drawback. Its preparation through the wet exfoliation of graphite inevitably leads to a product lacking several of the outstanding features of graphene. The destroyed graphene structure can be at least partially reconstructed by thermal and/or wet chemical reduction. Thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) was obtained by mild heat treatment (300 °C) in argon, while chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) was prepared by using a green reagent, ascorbic acid (AA). The parent GO and the two GO derivatives were compared by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Both reductive treatments resulted in enhanced thermal stability and higher C/O ratio. Although the chemical reduction with AA was more efficient in the elimination of the O functionalities, it also resulted in significant fragmentation of the graphene-like platelets.
Highlights
Since the first isolation of graphene by Geim and Novoselov et al [1], the flat two-dimensional (2D) monolayer of carbon atoms has attracted great interest for its excellent electrical, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties [2, 3]
The properties of the obtained Graphene oxide (GO) depend on the graphite precursor and the exfoliation method applied and the efficiency of the purification [14, 16,17,18]
Chemical reduction of the suspended GO was performed by treating the suspension in 0.02 M aqueous ascorbic acid at pH 10 (95 °C, 1 h) [32]
Summary
Since the first isolation of graphene by Geim and Novoselov et al [1], the flat two-dimensional (2D) monolayer of carbon atoms has attracted great interest for its excellent electrical, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties [2, 3]. GO is most often prepared by oxidative exfoliation of graphite in highly aggressive media [11,12,13,14,15]. The properties of the obtained GO depend on the graphite precursor and the exfoliation method applied and the efficiency of the purification [14, 16,17,18]. The intermediates being formed in the improved Hummers exfoliation method were followed by various methods [19]. Graphene-like properties can be partially recovered by the reduction of GO.
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