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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
Published on: July 3, 2025
Atomic and electronic structure of graphene-oxide
K Andre Mkhoyan1, Alexander W Contryman, John Silcox
1School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. mkhoyan@umn.edu
This study reveals graphene oxide (GO) has a rough, amorphous structure due to sp3 C-O bonds, with about 40% sp3 bonding. Advanced electron microscopy and spectroscopy detailed its atomic and electronic properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Solid State Physics
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising material derived from graphene.
- Understanding its atomic and electronic structure is crucial for its applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the atomic and electronic structure of graphene oxide (GO).
- To investigate the bonding modifications and electronic excitations in GO sheets.
Main Methods:
- Annular dark field imaging in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM).
- Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) for C and O K-edges.
- Ab initio calculations for theoretical support.
Main Results:
- GO sheets exhibit significant surface roughness (0.6 nm average).
- The structure is predominantly amorphous due to sp3 C-O bonds, with ~40% sp3 bonding.
- Unusual pi* + sigma* electronic excitation observed at 19 eV.
Conclusions:
- The oxidation process significantly modifies sp2 to sp3 bonding in GO.
- Detailed structural and electronic characterization provides insights into GO's properties.
- Findings support the amorphous nature of GO due to C-O bond distortions.
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