Investigation of optical and structural properties of synthesized graphene oxide and thermally reduced graphene oxide

Abstract

Graphene has attracted promising attention since its discovery because of its exotic and unique properties. Here, we report the simple, environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) by conventional Hummer’s method. Reduction of graphene oxide (rGO) is done thermally using horizontal tube furnace maintained at 650 ͦ C for 5 h. Spectroscopic investigation such as UV–visible, photoluminescence (PL), and Raman are used in order to investigate the optical properties and structural investigation is done using X-ray diffraction (XRD). From, UV–visible spectroscopy different absorption peaks were observed. Optical band gap energies of GO and rGO are estimated to be 3.21 and 3.97, and 3.04 eV, respectively using Tauc’s plot and emission spectra are observed from PL. From XRD spectra, interplanar spacing and average crystalline size are estimated by Bragg’s law and Scherrer’s equation for GO and rGO, respectively. From Raman spectra, two peaks are obtained mainly named as D peak and G peak for GO and rGO. ID/IG ratio of GO and rGO were found to be 0.94 and 1.02, respectively.