Mapping oxygen in graphene oxide could unlock better materials
Just one atom thick, graphene is the thinnest and strongest material ever measured. It can also conduct electricity and heat extremely well. These remarkable properties have generated interest in using graphene in everything from solar cells and batteries to water filters and sensors. Turning those possibilities into practical technologies, however, requires scientists to understand how changes…
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, exhibits exceptional strength and electrical and thermal conductivity, making it a material of great interest. However, understanding how alterations to graphene's structure affect its properties is crucial for practical applications. Ph.D. student Sakshi, under the guidance of Dr. Alexander Moewes at the University of Saskatchewan's Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, is exploring these questions.
Her work involves studying graphene oxide, a form of graphene with oxygen-containing attachments, using both experimental techniques and computer simulations. Graphene oxide's properties are influenced not only by the amount of oxygen present but also by the precise location of these oxygen groups, which can significantly alter its behavior.
Through X-ray measurements and simulations, Sakshi discovered that hydroxyls, which affect electrical charge, and epoxides, which weaken carbon-carbon bonds, attach to different sides of the graphene oxide, leaving approximately 60% of the carbon structure unchanged. This selective attachment could enable researchers to tailor graphene-based materials for specific applications such as energy storage, water filtration, and sensors, by better controlling the material's properties through understanding its atomic-level structure.
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