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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
08:57
Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
Published on: July 3, 2025
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Green reduction of graphene oxide using alanine
Jiabin Wang1, Elif Caliskan Salihi2, Lidija Šiller1
1Newcastle University, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
Summary
Researchers developed a green, one-step method to synthesize graphene oxide using alanine, an amino acid. This economical and scalable approach offers an eco-friendly alternative for producing graphene materials for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Green Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene's unique properties drive demand for scalable and sustainable production methods.
- Current graphene synthesis often involves harsh chemicals and energy-intensive processes.
- Developing eco-friendly reduction techniques for graphene oxide is crucial for its widespread application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish optimal conditions for a one-step, green synthesis of graphene oxide using alanine.
- To investigate the feasibility of using a biomolecule (alanine) for economical and scalable graphene production.
- To characterize the synthesized graphene oxide using various analytical techniques.
Main Methods:
- Graphene oxide (GO) synthesized via a modified, environmentally conscious Hummers method.
- Reduction of GO explored using alanine under varied conditions (time, temperature, concentration).
- Characterization of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, Raman, and XRD.
Main Results:
- Identified optimal operating conditions for alanine-mediated reduction of graphene oxide.
- Demonstrated a scalable, economical, and green synthesis route for graphene production.
- Confirmed the successful reduction and structural integrity of the synthesized graphene material.
Conclusions:
- Alanine serves as an effective biomolecule for the green reduction of graphene oxide.
- The developed method provides a sustainable and scalable pathway for graphene synthesis.
- This approach addresses the need for eco-friendly graphene production for various applications.
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