Chemical and electrochemical study of fabrics coated with reduced graphene oxide

• Published in: Applied surface science 2013-08, Vol.279, p.46-54
• Main Authors: Molina, J., Fernández, J., del Río, A.I., Bonastre, J., Cases, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coating; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Conducting fabrics; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electroactivity; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrics; Graphene; Graphene oxide; Oxides; Physics; Polyester; Positive feedback; Reduction (chemical); Scanning electrochemical microscopy
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.04.020

•Graphene-coated fabrics have been obtained by chemical reduction of graphene oxide.•XPS measurements showed the partial restoration of the sp2 structure of graphene.•Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed the conductive behavior of fabrics.•Better electrocatalytic properties were obtained in EIS measurements in solutions.•Scanning electrochemical microscopy showed also the increase of electroactivity. Polyester fabrics coated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) have been obtained and later characterized by means of chemical and electrochemical techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed a decrease of the oxygen content as well as an increase of the sp2 fraction after chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO). The electrical conductivity was measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and showed a decrease of 5 orders of magnitude in the resistance (Ω) when GO was reduced to RGO. The phase angle also changed from 90° for PES-GO (capacitative behavior) to 0° for RGO coated fabrics (resistive behavior). In general an increase in the number of RGO layers produced an increase of the conductivity of the fabrics. EIS measurements in metal/sample/electrolyte configuration showed better electrocatalytic properties and faster diffusion rate for RGO specimens. Scanning electrochemical microscopy was employed to test the electroactivity of the different fabrics obtained. The sample coated with GO was not conductive since negative feedback was obtained. When GO was reduced to RGO the sample behaved like a conducting material since positive feedback was obtained. Approach curves indicated that the redox mediator had influence on the electrochemical response. The Fe(CN)63−/4− redox mediator produced a higher electrochemical response than Ru(NH3)63+/2+ one.