Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

14:52
Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Polyhedrons via Origami-Like Self-Folding
Published on: September 23, 2018
Ethanol-assisted graphene oxide-based thin film formation at pentane-water interface
Fuming Chen1, Shaobin Liu, Jianmin Shen
1School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459, Singapore.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|July 1, 2011
Summary
We developed an ethanol-assisted method for rapid graphene oxide (GO) thin film formation at interfaces. This technique enables tunable properties for GO and composite films, enhancing material fabrication for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) is an amphiphilic material forming films at interfaces.
- Slow GO transfer in aqueous phases hinders efficient film formation.
- Existing methods lack sufficient driving force for rapid GO assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an ethanol-assisted self-assembly method for rapid GO and GO-based composite thin film formation.
- To achieve tunable film composition, transmittance, and surface resistivity.
- To explore the mechanism of ethanol-induced GO self-assembly.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an ethanol-assisted self-assembly technique at the pentane-water interface.
- Controlled GO film thickness by adjusting GO concentration in the bulk solution.
- Investigated GO/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composite film formation.
Main Results:
- Achieved rapid formation of GO and reduced GO (rGO) thin films with controllable thickness (~1-10 nm).
- Tuned rGO film transmittance (72-97% at 550 nm) and surface resistivity (8.3-464.6 kΩ sq⁻¹).
- Demonstrated successful fabrication of GO/SWCNT composite films with significantly lower surface resistivity than pure rGO films.
Conclusions:
- Ethanol acts as a non-solvent, providing the necessary driving force for rapid GO self-assembly at interfaces.
- The method offers a versatile platform for fabricating functional GO-based hybrid materials.
- This approach accelerates GO film formation for advanced material applications.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
Overview
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Overview
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.

