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Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
Published on: July 3, 2025
Reversible electrical reduction and oxidation of graphene oxide
Okan Oner Ekiz1, Mustafa Urel, Hasan Güner
1UNAM-Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey. ekiz@bilkent.edu.tr
ACS Nano
|March 12, 2011
Summary
Graphene oxide can be electrically switched between oxidized and reduced states, altering its electronic and optical properties. This reversible process enables applications in charge storage and resistive switching devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising material with tunable electronic and optical properties.
- Controlling the oxidation state of GO is crucial for advanced electronic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the reversible electrical reduction and oxidation of graphene oxide.
- To investigate the resulting changes in electronic and optical properties.
- To explore potential applications in electronic devices.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of two-terminal devices with multilayer graphene oxide films.
- Application of electrical stimulus for controlled reduction and oxidation.
- High-resolution tunneling current and electrostatic force microscopy for imaging.
- Characterization of charge storage and resistive switching behavior.
- Investigation of electrochromic effects.
Main Results:
- Graphene oxide can be reversibly switched between partially reduced GO and graphene states via electrical stimulus.
- This transformation creates self-assembled graphene oxide islands on graphene, forming a nanomesh heterostructure.
- Observed charge storage and resistive switching behavior correlated with electrochromic effects.
- Tip-induced reduction and oxidation were also successfully demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Electrical stimulus provides a viable method for reversible control over graphene oxide's oxidation state.
- The resulting nanomesh heterostructure exhibits unique electronic and optical properties.
- Graphene oxide-based devices show potential for charge storage, resistive switching, and electrochromic applications.
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