• Carbon letters
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.48-50
• /
• 2012

Mass production of graphene-based materials, which have high specific surface area, is of importance for industrial applications. Herein, we report on a facile approach to produce thermally modified graphene oxide (TMG) in large quantities. We performed this experiment with a hot plate under environments that have relatively low temperature and no using inert gas. TMG materials showed a high specific surface area (430 $m^2g^{-1}$). Successful reduction was confirmed by elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetic analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The resulting materials might be useful for various applications such as in rechargeable batteries, as hydrogen storage materials, as nano-fillers in composites, in ultracapacitors, and in chemical/bio sensors.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.231-244
• /
• 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by modified Hummer's method to produce reduced graphene oxide (RGO) following standard thermal and chemical reduction processes. Prepared RGO colloids were utilized to fabricate RGO films over glass and FTO coated glass substrates through drop-coating. A systematic study was performed to evaluate the effect of reduction degree on the optical and electrical properties of the RGO film. We demonstrate that both the reduction process (thermal and chemical) produce RGO films of similar optical and electrical behaviors. However, the RGO films fabricated using chemically reduced GO colloid render better performance in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), when they are used as counter electrodes (CEs). It has been demonstrated that RGO films of optimum thicknesses fabricated using RGO colloids prepared using lower concentration of hydrazine reducer have better catalytic performance in DSSCs due to a better catalytic interaction with redox couple. The better catalytic performance of the RGO films fabricated at optimal hydrazine concentration is associated to their higher available surface area and lower grain boundaries.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.677-683
• /
• 2019

In this paper, nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide(rGO) is obtained by thermal annealing of nitrogen-containing compounds and graphene oxide (GO) manufactured by modified Hummers' method. We use melamine as a nitrogen-containing compound and treat GO thermally with melamine at over $800{\sim}1,000^{\circ}C$ and 1 ~ 3 hr under Ar atmosphere. The electrical conductivity of doped rGO is measured by 4-point probe method. As a result, nitrogen contents on rGO are found to be in the range of 2.5 to 12.5 at% depending on the doping conditions after thermal annealing. The main doping site on graphene oxide is changed from pyridinic-N and pyrrolinic N to the graphitic site as the heat treatment temperature increases. The electrical conductivity of doped rGO increases as the N doping content increases. As the thermal treatment time increases, the change of both total doping contents and doping sites is slight and the surface resistance is remarkably reduced, which is caused by healing effects of doped graphene oxide at high temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.256-256
• /
• 2010

It is demonstrated that graphene sheets are produced via thermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO) in the presence of imidazoium-based poly (ionic liquid) (PIL). PILs plays an important role in minimizing the reduction time and dispersing graphene sheets in organic solvents. In addition, as-obtained graphene sheets are found to be functionalized with PIL molecules by the strong interaction of PIL and the graphene, as analyzed by various physical methods such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Such a strong interaction allows the successful production of graphene/PIL composites, in which their electrical properties are controllable by the loading level of graphene in the PIL matrix.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.247-250
• /
• 2013

In this study, we present a facile method of fabricating graphene oxide (GO) films on the surface of polyimide (PI) via layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of charged GO. The positively charged amino-phenyl functionalized GO (APGO) is alternatively complexed with the negatively charged GO through an electrostatic LBL assembly process. Furthermore, we investigated the water vapor transmission rate and oxygen transmission rate of the prepared (reduced GO $[rGO]/rAPGO)_{10}$ deposited PI film (rGO/rAPGO/PI) and pure PI film. The water vapor transmission rate of the GO and APGO-coated PI composite film was increased due to the intrinsically hydrophilic property of the charged composite films. However, the oxygen transmission rate was decreased from 220 to 78 $cm^3/m^2{\cdot}day{\cdot}atm$, due to the barrier effect of the graphene films on the PI surface. Since the proposed method allows for large-scale production of graphene films, it is considered to have potential for utilization in various applications.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.19
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2016

Nitrogen-atom doped graphene oxide was considered to prevent the dissolution of polysulfide and to guarantee the enhanced redox reaction of sulfur for good cycle performance of lithium sulfur cells. In this study, we used urea as a nitrogen source due to its low cost and easy preparation. To find the optimum urea content, we tested three different ratios of urea to graphene oxide. The morphology of the composites was examined by field emission scanning electron microscope. Functional groups and bonding characterization were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical properties were characterized by cyclic voltammetry in an organic electrolyte solution. Compared with thermally reduced graphene/sulfur (S) composite, nitrogen-doped graphene/S composites showed higher electroactivity and more stable capacity retention.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.18
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2016

High pollutant-loading capacities (up to 319 times its own weight) are achieved by three-dimensional (3D) macroporous, slightly reduced graphene oxide (srGO) sorbents, which are prepared through ice-templating and consecutive thermal reduction. The reduction of the srGO is readily controlled by heating time under a mild condition (at 1 10⁻² Torr and 200℃). The saturated sorption capacity of the hydrophilic srGO sorbent (thermally reduced for 1 h) could not be improved further even though the samples were reduced for 10 h to achieve the hydrophobic surface. The large meso- and macroporosity of the srGO sorbent, which is achieved by removing the residual water and the hydroxyl groups, is crucial for achieving the enhanced capacity. In particular, a systematic study on absorption parameters indicates that the open porosity of the 3D srGO sorbents significantly contributes to the physical loading of oils and organic solvents on the hydrophilic surface. Therefore, this study provides insight into the absorption behavior of highly macroporous graphene-based macrostructures and hence paves the way to development of promising next-generation sorbents for removal of oils and organic solvent pollutants.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.274-279
• /
• 2015

Reduced graphite oxides (rGOs) were prepared by the common graphite oxidation method and the subsequent reductions. The reduction of graphite oxides (GOs) was conducted chemically and/or thermally. To further reduce the as-prepared rGOs, GOs were treated with chemical/thermal reductions or thermal/chemical reductions, in which the reduction sequence was also considered. The structural changes of as-prepared rGOs, depending on reduction methods, were investigated by X-ray diffraction analyses, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, we discuss the structural change of the rGOs and their closely related physical and electrical properties, such as thermogravimetry, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, and sheet resistance.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.502-509
• /
• 2014

Carbon-based nanoplatelets such as graphene oxide (GO) sheets and graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) are frequently used as conductive nanofillers for polymer nanocomposites. In this study, polystyrene (PS)/GO and PS/GNP nanocomposites were prepared through a latex technology and investigated to compare the effect of nanofillers on rheological and electrical properties of the PS nanocomposites. PS particles were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization and GO was synthesized by using the modified Hummers' method from graphite. Hydrophilic GO was dispersed in aqueous PS suspension, but hydrophobic GNPs were dispersed with the help of a surfactant. In comparison with PS/GO nanocomposites, the rheological properties of PS/GNP counterparts were not too high because GNP existed in aggregates of graphene layers. Conducting pathways of PS/GO and PS/GNP nanocomposites were achieved at the electrical percolation threshold of 0.50 and 5.82 wt%, respectively. The reason for enhanced electrical conductivity in PS/GO nanocomposites is that GO was thermally reduced during molding.