Synthesis and characterization of surfactant-exfoliated graphene oxide

Abstract

Graphene is getting the spotlight in electronics industry due to its regular metallicity as well as unique electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. As the next generation electronic material, graphene is widely expected for semiconductor or display application. To make the graphene more practicable overcoming its aquaeous insoluble property, this study gives a simple process to synthesize water-dispersable graphene. An anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), was introduced through ultrasonication method when graphite oxide is exfoliated. Syntehesis of surfactant-exfoliated graphene brings the possibility that the surfactant can play the role of an exfoliator and stabilizer during binding on the graphene surface. The obtained modified graphene was characterized by Fouriere-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), solid state 13C CP/MAS NMR, and Raman spectroscopy for analysis of binding between the molecules, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for its morphology, and Zeta-potential for stabilized state electricity. The resulting graphene showed well dispersed stability both in water and in organic solvents, which corresponds to the purpose of this study.