Preservation stability of chemically synthesized graphite oxide slurry and reduced graphene oxide powder

Abstract

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) powder and graphite oxide slurry were stored under natural conditions for different times, and then they were characterized in the RGO powder state. The influences of preservation time on the physical and chemical performances of RGO were investigated by different analysis methods. The results indicate that they are relatively stable in X-ray diffraction and Raman activity, whereas changes are detectable in their scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy characterizations. Importantly, with the increase of preservation time, the specific capacitances at a current density of 1 A/g maintain around 150 F/g for those two groups of RGO samples, indicating that the electrochemical performance of RGO powder fabricated by chemical route is fairly stable. In contrast, there is an obvious decrease in electrical conductivity, and after being stored for 180 days, the electrical conductivities remain only 16.4% and 15.1% of their initial values, respectively. These test results can not only arouse some new research ideas about improving the stability of chemically derived RGO powder and graphite oxide slurry, but also provide important references to their practical applications for industrial production.