Abstract
This work aimed to produce graphene oxide with few graphene layers, a low number of defects, good conductivity and reasonable amount of oxygen, adequate for use as filler in polymeric composites. Two starting materials were evaluated: expanded graphite and graphite flakes. The method of oxidation used was the Staudenmaier one, which was tested over different lengths of time. No appreciable differences were found among the oxidation times and so the lowest oxidation time (24 h) was chosen as the most adequate. An investigation was also conducted into suitable temperatures for the reduction of graphite oxide. A temperature of 1000 oC gave the best results, allowing a good quality material with few defects to be obtained. The reduction was also evaluated under inert and normal atmosphere. The best results were obtained when the least modified material, e. g., graphite flakes, was used as a starting material, oxidized for 24h and reduced at 1000 oC for 30 s in a quartz ampoule under a normal atmosphere.
Highlights
Research on new materials has grown exponentially in recent decades due to the requirements of manufacturers in industry and a plethora of new uses, even in social life
The present work aims to develop a methodology for obtaining large quantities of few layer reduced graphene oxide from graphite at a low cost, while presenting good quality and a reasonable amount of oxygen, which could be used as nanofiller for composites[24]
In order to evaluate the need for pre-treatment in the oxidation process, two different types of graphite were employed as starting materials: expanded graphite (EG) and graphite flake (FK)
Summary
Research on new materials has grown exponentially in recent decades due to the requirements of manufacturers in industry and a plethora of new uses, even in social life. Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov made an outstanding contribution to the study of graphene’s properties and received the Nobel Prize of Physics in 2010 for their innovative experiments[2,3] They discovered that graphene is 200 times stronger than steel and conducts electricity at room temperature faster than any other known material. The present work aims to develop a methodology for obtaining large quantities of few layer reduced graphene oxide from graphite at a low cost, while presenting good quality and a reasonable amount of oxygen, which could be used as nanofiller for composites[24]. Thermal reduction processes at 600, 700, and 1000 °C, in different atmospheres (normal and inert), were investigated
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