Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide Thin Films Deposited by Spray Pyrolysis Method

M S Eluyemi,B Olofinjana,E O B Ajayi,O Fasakin,A T Famojuro,M A Eleruja,A V Adedeji,O O Ilori,S A Ayinde,O O Akinwunmi

doi:10.4236/graphene.2016.53012

Abstract

Graphene Oxide (GO) was chemically synthesized from Natural Flake Graphite (NFG). The GO was chemically reduced to Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) using hydrazine monohydrate. Thin films of GO and RGO were also deposited on sodalime glass substrate using spray pyrolysis technique (SPT). The samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDS) facility attached to it, UV-Visible Spectrometry and Four-Point probe. The FTIR spectra showed the addition of oxygen functionality groups in GO while such groups was drastically reduced in RGO. SEM micrograph of GO thin film showed a porous sponge-like structure while the micrograph of RGO thin film showed evenly distributed and well connected graphene structure. The EDX spectrum of RGO showed that there was decrease in oxygen content and increase in carbon content of RGO when compared to GO. The optical analysis of the GO and RGO thin films gave a direct energy bandgap of 2.7 eV and 2.2 eV respectively. The value of sheet resistance of GO and RGO films was determined to be 22.9 × 106Ω/sq and 4.95 × 106Ω/sq respectively.

Highlights

Graphene is a two-dimensional building block with honeycomb structure
Thin films of Graphene Oxide (GO) and Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) were deposited on sodalime glass substrate using spray pyrolysis technique (SPT)
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrograph of GO thin film showed a porous sponge-like structure with the graphene sheet not well connected together which is an indication that graphite has been exfoliated to GO

Summary

Introduction

Graphene is a two-dimensional building block with honeycomb structure It can be stacked as three dimensional graphite, rolled into one dimensional nanotubes, or folded into zero dimensional fullerenes [1] [2]. It is a nanoscale allotrope of carbon. Other complex interactions between electrons and the hexagonal lattice make graphene transparent, flexible and strong [5]. These properties and others have attracted many researchers over the last half-decade to study graphene for a diverse array of uses [6] [7]

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Conclusion