Characterization on the exfoliation degree of graphite oxide into graphene oxide by UV-visible spectroscopy

Abstract

The exfoliation degree of graphite oxide into graphene oxide plays an important role in the massive production method of reduced graphene oxide. It is significant to find a simple and feasible method to analyze the exfoliation degree of graphite oxide. In the present work, graphite oxide was synthesized by a modified Hummers method, and then graphene oxide colloids were obtained by exfoliation of graphite oxide dispersed in de-ionized water. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to characterize the absorption of the graphene oxide colloids, and the concentration of graphene oxide colloids indicated by absorption area of UV-visible spectra was studied. Results show that there is a relatively stable relationship between them, indicating that UV-visible spectroscopy is a potential method for analyzing the exfoliation degree of graphite oxide into graphene oxide.

Keywords

graphene / graphene oxide / graphene oxide colloids / UV-visible spectroscopy

References

[1] Zhu Y, Murali S, Cai W, et al. Graphene and Graphene Oxide: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications[J]. Adv. Mater., 2010, 22: 5226-5226.

[2] Eda G, Chhowalla M. Chemically Derived Graphene Oxide: Towards Large-area Thin-film Electronics and Optoelectronics[J]. Adv. Mater., 2010, 22: 2392-2415.

[3] Dreyer D R, Park S, Bielawski C W, et al. The Chemistry of Graphene Oxide[J]. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39: 228-240.

[4] Park S, Ruoff R S. Chemical Methods for the Production of Graphenes[J]. Nature Nanotechnology, 2009, 4(4): 217-24.

[5] Li D, Muller M B, Gilje S, et al. Processable Aqueous Dispersions of Graphene Nanosheets[J]. Nature Nanotechnology, 2008, 3: 101-105.

[6] Wang G X, Wang B, Park J, et al. Synthesis of Enhanced Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Graphene Oxide Nanosheets by a Solvothermal Method[J]. Carbon, 2009, 47: 68-72.

[7] Hummers W S, Offeman R E. Preparation of Graphitic Oxide[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1958, 80: 1339.

[8] Stankovich S, Dikin D A, Piner R D, et al. Synthesis of Graphene-based Nanosheets via Chemical Reduction of Exfoliated Graphite Oxide[J]. Carbon, 2007, 45: 1558-1565.

[9] Titelman G I, Gelman V, Bron S, et al. Characteristics and Microstructure of Aqueous Colloidal Dispersions of Graphite Oxide[J]. Carbon, 2005, 43: 641-649.

[10] Mermoux M, Chabre Y, Rousseau A. FTIR and 13C NMR Study of Graphite Oxide[J]. Carbon, 1991, 29: 469-474.

[11] Lerf A, He H Y, Forster M, et al. Structure of Graphite Oxide Revisited[J]. J. Phys. Chem.B, 1998, 102: 4477-4482.