Effects of various vitamin C amounts on the green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide

Abstract

In this study, a simple and green chemistry approach is described for the preparation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). To this aim, we used a novel reducing agent (vitamin C) for the synthesis of RGO. The GO was reduced at different weight ratios of vitamin C:GO (1: 1, 1.5 :1 and 2 :1). The XRD, FTIR and EDS results showed the deoxygenation of GO due to the loss of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and epoxy groups. The thermal stability of the GO was lower than those of all the RGO powders, and the BET surface area of the GO was much lower than those of all the RGO powders. The results showed that the structural and thermal properties of RGO powders depend on the ratio of vitamin C: GO. When the ratio is 1 :1, the RGO powder has the best thermal stability, and the highest. BET surface area (m(2)g(-1)) was found to be a 2 :1 ratio.