Structural and optical properties of graphene oxide prepared by modified hummers' method

Graphene oxide was synthesized from graphite flakes using modified Hummers' method. The interlayer spacings of graphite, graphite oxide and graphene oxide were measured using X-ray diffraction technique. The C/O atomic ratios of graphite oxide and graphene oxide were calculated from XPS measurements. The transformation of graphite to graphite oxide and finally to graphene oxide was clearly observed from the micro-Raman spectroscopy data and was confirmed from the FESEM micrographs. UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer was used to study the absorbance of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide samples. Finally, the chemically reduced graphene oxide was heat-treated in air to obtain chemically modified graphene.