Dual Path Mechanism in the Thermal Reduction of Graphene Oxide

Graphene is easily produced by thermally reducing graphene oxide. However, defect formation in the C network during deoxygenation compromises the charge carrier mobility in the reduced material. Understanding the mechanisms of the thermal reactions is essential for defining alternative routes able t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Chemical Society 2011-11, Vol.133 (43), p.17315-17321
Main Authors: Larciprete, Rosanna, Fabris, Stefano, Sun, Tao, Lacovig, Paolo, Baraldi, Alessandro, Lizzit, Silvano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Graphite - chemistry
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxides - chemistry
Temperature
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Summary:Graphene is easily produced by thermally reducing graphene oxide. However, defect formation in the C network during deoxygenation compromises the charge carrier mobility in the reduced material. Understanding the mechanisms of the thermal reactions is essential for defining alternative routes able to limit the density of defects generated by carbon evolution. Here, we identify a dual path mechanism in the thermal reduction of graphene oxide driven by the oxygen coverage: at low surface density, the O atoms adsorbed as epoxy groups evolve as O2 leaving the C network unmodified. At higher coverage, the formation of other O-containing species opens competing reaction channels, which consume the C backbone. We combined spectroscopic tools and ab initio calculations to probe the species residing on the surface and those released in the gas phase during heating and to identify reaction pathways and rate-limiting steps. Our results illuminate the current puzzling scenario of the low temperature gasification of graphene oxide.
ISSN:0002-7863
1520-5126
DOI:10.1021/ja205168x