Compositions comprising enhanced graphene oxide structures and related methods
Embodiments described herein generally relate to compositions comprising a graphene oxide species. In some embodiments, the compositions advantageously have relatively high oxygen content, even after annealing.
1. A method, comprising:
heating a first composition comprising a first graphene oxide species at a temperature of about 150° C. for a period of at least 1 day in the absence of a chemical reagent capable of reacting with the first graphene oxide species, thereby producing a second composition comprising a second graphene oxide species different from the first graphene oxide species, wherein the second graphene oxide species has an atomic % of oxygen of at least about 20 at %.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the first graphene oxide species comprises oxygen-containing groups attached to the first graphene oxide species and dispersed over a surface of the first graphene oxide species.
3. A method as in claim 2 , wherein the heating step causes at least some of the oxygen-containing groups to rearrange and/or migrate to a different location on the surface of the graphene oxide species.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the atomic % of oxygen in the second graphene oxide species is at least about 50% of the atomic % of oxygen in the first graphene oxide species.
5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second composition comprises:
a first set of domains comprising carbon atoms substituted with oxygen-containing groups; and
a second set of domains comprising carbon atoms that are substantially free of oxygen-containing groups.
6. A method as in claim 5 , wherein the atomic % of oxygen in the first set of domains is about 40% or greater.
7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the chemical reagent is a reducing agent and/or a strong base.
8. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature of about 120° C. or less.
9. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the heating step is performed for a period of at least about 4 days.
10. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the heating step is performed at atmospheric pressure and/or at a pH of about 7.
11. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the first and second compositions are in substantially solid form.
12. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the first and second compositions further comprise a fluid carrier, wherein the fluid carrier is a non-aqueous solution, an aqueous solution, or water.
13. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the atomic % of oxygen in the second graphene oxide species is at least about 25 at %.
14. A method as in claim 2 , wherein the oxygen-containing groups comprise epoxy groups, carboxyl groups, carbonyl groups, lactol groups, and/or hydroxyl groups.
15. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second graphene oxide species absorbs at least about 20% more photons in the visible range than the first graphene oxide species, when placed under essentially identical conditions.
16. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second graphene oxide species exhibits a sheet resistance of about 1×10 9 ohms/sq or less.
17. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the first graphene oxide species exhibits a first peak emission wavelength and the second graphene oxide species exhibits a second peak emission wavelength, wherein the second peak emission wavelength is at least about 50 nm less than the first peak emission wavelength.
18. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second graphene oxide species exhibits a peak emission wavelength of about 500 nm or less.
19. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second graphene oxide species has a band gap of about 5 eV or less.
20. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second graphene oxide species is arranged in a device and/or in contact with one or more electrodes.
21. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature of about 100° C. or less.
22. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature of about 80° C. or less.
23. A method, comprising:
heating a first composition comprising a first graphene oxide species at a temperature of about 150° C. or less for a period of at least about 1 day, thereby producing a second composition comprising a second graphene oxide species, wherein the atomic % of oxygen in the second graphene oxide species is at least about 50% of the atomic % of oxygen in the first graphene oxide species.