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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
Sulfur species in graphene oxide
Siegfried Eigler1, Christoph Dotzer, Ferdinand Hof
1Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy and Institute of Advanced Materials and Processes, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 42, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. siegfried.eigler@zmp.uni-erlangen.de
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 20, 2013
Summary
This study identifies covalently bound organosulfate species in graphene oxide (GO) using advanced characterization techniques. These findings refine the structural model of GO and explain its reactivity in various applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) structure is vital for its chemical functionalization.
- Sulfur content in GO prepared by Hummers' method is not fully understood.
- Previous studies suggested hydrolysis and stable sulfonic groups in graphite oxide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize sulfur species in graphene oxide (GO).
- To investigate the thermal decomposition behavior of GO related to sulfur content.
- To refine the structural model of GO based on new findings.
Main Methods:
- Bulk characterization of graphene oxide (GO).
- Thermogravimetry (TG) analysis.
- Mass spectroscopy (MS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) for decomposition product analysis.
- Temperature-dependent decomposition experiments.
Main Results:
- Identified covalently bound sulfate species in GO, persisting after aqueous work-up.
- Excluded sulfonic groups as major species after aqueous work-up.
- Revealed two main decomposition steps related to sulfur species: organosulfate (200-300 °C) and inorganic sulfate (700-800 °C).
- Organosulfate contributes to GO's reactivity.
Conclusions:
- The structural model of GO was extended to include covalently bound organosulfate groups alongside epoxy and hydroxyl groups.
- The presence of organosulfate groups, particularly beneath epoxy groups, enables new molecular architectures.
- These findings provide insights into GO properties and potential applications.
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