Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized from graphite through a chemical oxidation process and heat treated at 110 and 220 C in a vacuum atmosphere. The partial reduction and sp 3 to sp 2 phase transition of GO was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, micro Raman, ultraviolet-visiblenear infrared spectroscopy techniques. Dielectric properties of pristine GO and heat-treated GO were studied in the frequency range 10 2 to 10 6 Hz at 27 C. Hydroxyl, carboxyl functional groups removed GO after 220 C heat treatment, expressed higher electrical conductivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss in the order of 10 À2 S m À1 , 10 3 and 10 5 respectively than the pristine GO (10 À6 S m À1 , 10 1 and 10 1 ).Pristine and heat-treated GO were coated on the partially cladding removed poly-methyl methacrylate optical fiber and used as fiber optic gas sensors. GO and heat treated GO coated fibers were responsive to detect ammonia, ethanol and methanol vapors from 0 to 500 ppm at 27 C. Sensitivities of GO coated fiber optic sensor were calculated as À0.32, À0.26 and À0.20 counts per ppm for ammonia, ethanol and methanol vapors respectively. The effect of functional groups on dielectric and gas sensing properties of GO was investigated and reported.