XClose

INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS DISCOVERY

Home
Menu

Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

The science behind the research

With a large surface area and abundant functional groups on its surface, graphene oxide (GO) has been an attractive choice as an anchoring site for nanoparticles such as platinum (Pt), Ag, TiO2, Fe2O3, CeO2 and PbS to form GO based nanocomposites.

The reduction of GO and its nanocomposites to fabricate reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/nanoparticle hybrid materials has stimulated intense research over recent years due to their new optical, electronic, thermal, mechanical, and catalytic properties for a wide range of potential applications.

Ongoing research

Figure 1 shows a schematic demonstrating the synthesis of TrGO and OrGO nanocomposites. Graphene oxide was synthesized by the Hummers method: Firstly GO paper was formed by filtration through an alumina membrane filter. Then OrGO was synthesized by oxygen- annealing GO paper. Finally TrGO was synthesized by thermal annealing GO paper. OrGO is a novel nanocomposite combining rGO sheets and Al2O3 nanoparticles which are exclusively located at the edges of the holes.

 Fig1: Schematic of the synthesis of TrGO and OrGO nanocomposites

Schematic of the synthesis of TrGO and OrGO nanocomposites.jpg

Figure 2 shows HRTEM characterisations of oxygen-annealed reduced graphene oxide. In (a) the HRTEM images of the OrGO show the distribution of aluminium oxide nanoparticles. The inset is the fast Fourier transform pattern of the selected region of the OrGO. (b) shows HRTEM images of the aluminium oxide nanoparticles located at the edges of holes of OrGO. The particle sizes are less than 10 nm. Finally, (c) shows the EDX mapping of the nanoparticles showing the components of nanoparticles. Scale bars in (a) and (b) are 50 nm and 5 nm, respectively.

 Fig2 HRTEM characterizations of oxygen-annealed reduced graphene oxide

HRTEM characterisations of oxygen-annealed reduced graphene oxide.jpg

Recent publications

  • Hao Liu, Kwang-Leong Choy* and Martin Roe. "Enhanced conductivity of reduced graphene oxide decorated with aluminium oxide nanoparticles by oxygen annealing" Nanoscale, 2013, 5, 5725