Graphene Oxides Derivatives Prepared by an Electrochemical Approach: Correlation between Structure and Properties

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) can be defined as a single monolayer of graphite with oxygen-containing functionalities such as epoxides, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. It is an interesting alternative to graphene for many applications due to its exceptional properties and feasibility of functionalization. In this study, electrochemically exfoliated graphene oxides (EGOs) with different amounts of surface groups, hence level of oxidation, were prepared by an electrochemical two-stage approach using graphite as raw material. A complete characterization of the EGOs was carried out in order to correlate their surface topography, interlayer spacing, defect content, and specific surface area (SSA) with their electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. It has been found that the SSA has a direct relationship with the d-spacing. The EGOs electrical resistance decreases with increasing SSA while rises with increasing the D/G band intensity ratio in the Raman spectra, hence the defect content. Their thermal stability under both nitrogen and dry air atmospheres depends on both their oxidation level and defect content. Their macroscopic mechanical properties, namely the Young’s modulus and tensile strength, are influenced by the defect content, while no correlation was found with their SSA or interlayer spacing. Young moduli values as high as 54 GPa have been measured, which corroborates that the developed method preserves the integrity of the graphene flakes. Understanding the structure-property relationships in these materials is useful for the design of modified GOs with controllable morphologies and properties for a wide range of applications in electrical/electronic devices.

Graphene-Based Polymer Composites for Flexible Electronic Applications

“…This method holds potential for application in optoelectronics and nanocomposites. Another means of exfoliation is the electrochemical method, in which ions enter within the graphite flakes and induce layer separation [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Thus, an applied voltage drives ionic species to intercalate into graphite where they form gaseous species that expand and exfoliate individual graphene sheets.…”

Application of Graphene in Tissue Engineering of the Nervous System

“…One of the more important properties of rGOs is their electrical conductivity, which is even higher than that of GOs. rGO differs from GO by the lack of epoxy functional groups on the surface of the rGO flake [ 76 ].…”

“…One of the more important properties of rGOs is their electrical conductivity, which is even higher than that of GOs. rGO differs from GO by the lack of epoxy functional groups on the surface of the rGO flake [76]. Qin Tu et al examined the growth and branching of primary rat hippocampal neurons on coverslips coated with the chemically functionalized GOs with different surface charges on a scaffold.…”

Graphene Oxide Chemistry Management via the Use of KMnO4/K2Cr2O7 Oxidizing Agents

“…Furthermore, in order to obtain GO with various oxidation degrees, electrochemical methods of oxidation of thermally-expanded graphite have been used [ 37 , 38 ]. Such methods are environmentally-friendly and fairly simple to implement; however, the functional composition of the oxidation products obtained in the above articles has not been studied.…”