Synthesis and Characterization of Reduced Graphene Oxide Films

Abstract

The discovery of graphene properties in 2004 has replaced the need for indium titanium oxide on many applications. A large amount of research has focused on the advantages of using synthesis graphene as an inexpensive and clean process. In spite of a variety of synthesis methods which are able to produce high quality graphene sheet, Hummers method in synthesis graphene oxide has received the most attention due to its simplicity. This research illustrates the reduction method of graphene oxide and the restored conjugation structure of graphene sheet. Since using graphene oxide materials before reduction acts as an insulator, reduction process can improve electronic structure as well as electrical property. There are several methods used to fabricate reduced graphene oxide, including thermal reduction, chemical reduction, and photo reduction. Using one method is insufficient in producing a complete reduction of oxygen functional group. However, multi-step reduction is a new approach which relies on using two methods. Percentage of defect and surface morphology are factors that must be considered in preferring one method over another. Future research is needed to understand the mechanism of reduction, the increase and decrease defect ratio during reduction, the removable of oxygen atoms, and the rearrangement of carbon atoms.