Temperature-controlled exfoliation of graphite oxide: studies of defects and transport properties of graphene oxide

Abstract

The quality, structural defects, and transport properties of GO can be tailored by maintaining ultrasonic bath temperature. Herein, the effect of temperature-controlled exfoliation on the structural defects and transport properties of the resulting graphene oxide (GO) sheets are examined. The large crystallite size (12.23 nm) and low defect density (2.16 × 10 ^11 cm ^−2 ) are found at 20 °C exfoliations. Highly oriented GO sheets were exfoliated at 20 °C which was confirmed through Bernal-stacking proportions (∼30%). Furthermore, electrical transport properties are high at 10 °C exfoliation temperature while optimum at other temperatures, calculated through impedance spectroscopy. Comparatively, smooth, wrinkle-free, and lesser bulges are found at 20 °C and 30 °C exfoliation temperatures.

Keywords

• ultrasonic bath temperature
• graphene oxide
• defects
• transport properties