Grafeenioksidin

Grafeenioksidi, often abbreviated as GO, is a form of graphene that has been oxidized. It is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, similar to graphene, but with the addition of oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl, epoxide, and carboxyl groups attached to the carbon atoms and along the edges of the sheet. These oxygen groups disrupt the sp2 hybridization of the carbon atoms, making GO electrically insulating or semiconducting, unlike the highly conductive graphene. GO can be synthesized through various chemical oxidation methods, most commonly the Hummers' method or modified versions thereof, starting from graphite.

The presence of these oxygen functional groups makes GO hydrophilic, meaning it can be easily dispersed in water and other polar solvents, forming stable colloidal suspensions. This dispersibility is a key advantage over graphene, which tends to aggregate in most solvents. GO can be readily processed using techniques like sonication, centrifugation, and filtration.

The oxygen-containing groups also provide reactive sites that can be further modified through chemical reactions, allowing for the attachment of various molecules, polymers, or nanoparticles. This makes GO a versatile platform for creating functionalized materials. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO), produced by removing some or most of the oxygen groups from GO, can be obtained and exhibits electrical conductivity closer to that of graphene, making it a promising material for electronics and energy storage applications. GO itself finds applications in areas such as composites, membranes for water purification, sensors, drug delivery, and as a precursor for producing graphene-based materials.