The Graphene term has become synonymous with layered carbon sheets having thicknesses
ranging from the monolayer to stacks of about ten layers. For bulk volume production,
graphite chemical exfoliation is the preferred solution. For this reason, much interest has
congregated around different processes to oxidize and peel off graphite to obtain graphene
oxide (GO) and its counterpart, reduced GO (rGO). The community at-large has quickly
adopted those processes and has been intensively using the resulting (r)GO as active
materials for a myriad of applications.
Yet, partially given the absence of comparative
studies in synthesis methodologies, a lack of understanding persists on how to best tailor
these carbon materials for a given application. In this dissertation, the effect of using
different chemical oxidation-reduction strategies for graphite, namely the impact on the
structure and chemistry of GOs and rGOs is systematically discussed. Added to this, it is
demonstrated that the drying step of the powdered materials cannot be neglected.
Its influence is demonstrated in studies such as the optimization of capacitance of rGOs touted
as electrochemical energy storage materials (Chapter 4). It is concluded that, in order to
maximize the performance of GO and rGO materials for any particular application, there
must be a judicious choice of their synthesis steps. Obvious as it may be for anyone
working in Chemistry, this point has been surprisingly overlooked for too long by the vast
majority of those working with these carbon materials.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:kaust.edu.sa/oai:repository.kaust.edu.sa:10754/629892 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Alazmi, Amira |
| Contributors | Da Costa, Pedro M. F. J., Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) Division, Cavallo, Luigi, Khashab, Niveen M., Hurt, Robert |
| Source Sets | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
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