Preparing dangling bonds by nanoholes on graphene oxide nanosheets and their enhanced magnetism

The effects of dangling bonds on the magnetic properties of graphene oxide (GO) were studied experimentally by creating nanoholes on GO nanosheets. GO with more nanoholes (MHGO) and less nanoholes (LHGO) on graphene oxide nanosheets were synthesized. Results showed that nanoholes brought new dangling bonds for GO and the increase of the dangling bonds on GO could be adjusted by the amounts of the nanoholes on GO. The magnetism of GO was enhanced with increased density of nanoholes on GO (MHGO > LHGO > GO). Furthermore, the increased dangling bonds induced magnetic coupling between the spin units and so converted paramagnetism GO to ferromagnetism (MHGO, LHGO). The easy generation and adjustment of GO dangling bonds by nanoholes on GO nanosheets will promote the applications of GO.