Chemically modified graphene (CMG) such as graphene oxide has become an attractive alternative for the synthesis of graphene on a large scale because its production is readily scalable. Despite the extensive use of graphene oxide, fundamental questions regarding the basic physical and chemical structures of graphene oxide still remain. Over the past decades, different models for the structure of graphene oxide have been proposed, and these models primarily consist of a homogeneous oxidized structure. Because the presence of oxidation debris (OD) complicates the structures and properties of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet, thereby impacting their potential applications, it is important to confirm the origin of OD and structure of graphene oxide. In the current study, we directly imaged the surfaces of as-prepared GO (a-GO), base-washed GO (bw-GO) and OD using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and confirmed the attached state and size of OD on graphene oxide nanosheet for the first time. Notably, the adsorption capacity of phenanthrene and m-dinitrobenzene on bw-GO is much greater than that on a-GO. The insights regarding the surface chemistry of graphene oxide nanosheet and the existence and attached sites of OD nanoparticles on GO provide a theoretical basis for preparing OD-free GO for optimizing the potential environmental applications of GO nanomaterials.

Probe the existence of oxidation debris on the surface of graphene oxide nanosheet and its effect on adsorption capability

252nd National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.