Development of a one-pot synthesis of rGO in water by optimizing Tour's method parameters

Since its first synthesis in 2004, graphene has been widely studied and several different synthesis methods has been developed. Solvent exfoliation of graphite and the reduction of graphene oxide previously obtained through graphite oxidation are the most employed. In this work, we exploited synthesis conditions of a method usually employed for obtaining graphene oxide (the Tour's method) for directly obtaining a very poorly oxidised material with characteristics like reduced graphene oxide. For the first time, a one-pot synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is reported avoiding the use of a post-synthesis chemical or thermal reduction of the graphene oxide that requires further reagents, heat and time.