Morphology and Chemical Purity of Water Suspension of Graphene Oxide FLAKES Aged for 14 Months in Ambient Conditions. A Preliminary Study.

Małgorzata Djas,Monika Bil,Tomasz Strachowski,Adrian Chlanda,Wojciech Swieszkowski,Ewa Kijeńska-Gawrońska,Krystian Kowiorski,Marcin Małek,Ludwika Lipińska

doi:10.3390/ma14154108

Abstract

Graphene and its derivatives have attracted scientists’ interest due to their exceptional properties, making them alluring candidates for multiple applications. However, still little is known about the properties of as-obtained graphene derivatives during long-term storage. The aim of this study was to check whether or not 14 months of storage time impacts graphene oxide flakes’ suspension purity. Complementary micro and nanoscale characterization techniques (SEM, AFM, EDS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and elemental combustion analysis) were implemented for a detailed description of the topography and chemical properties of graphene oxide flakes. The final step was pH evaluation of as-obtained and aged samples. Our findings show that purified flakes sustained their purity over 14 months of storage.

Highlights

Graphene is a two-dimensional, one-atom-thick layer of carbon, in which atoms are oriented in a hexagonal crystal lattice
Detailed examination, including Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as an ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer, proved that Graphene oxide (GO) can be effectively reduced by UV light (395 nm), with the intensity of 100 mW/cm2 even at room temperature
Modified Hummers method [33,34] was utilized in order to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) flakes

Summary

Introduction

Graphene is a two-dimensional, one-atom-thick layer of carbon, in which atoms are oriented in a hexagonal crystal lattice. The promising and appealing properties of graphene-based materials are widely used in many research-oriented fields, like fuel cells [1,2], batteries [3,4], screens [5,6], sensors [7,8], flexible electronics [9,10], tissue engineering [11,12], and membranes [13,14] Their unique features result in an increase of materials’ mechanical strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, and surface area and flexibility [15,16,17], making them the most preferred choice in experimental procedures. Detailed examination, including Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as an ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer, proved that GO can be effectively reduced by UV light (395 nm), with the intensity of 100 mW/cm even at room temperature

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Results