Tailor made exfoliated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets based on oxidative-exfoliation approach

This study presents a versatile and scalable strategy of ‘oxidation controlled exfoliation’ of rGO nanosheets synthesized from both Hummers and modified Hummers method. A co-relation between degree of oxidation of graphite oxide (GO) sheets and exfoliation of resulting synthesized rGO nanosheets has been successfully developed which in turn reflects in various properties of rGO sheets. The extent of exfoliation of rGO sheets has been well analyzed by XRD, SEM, BET and TEM techniques. Moreover, the quantitative analysis of degree of oxidation of GO has been estimated from FTIR spectra using quotient law method. The variations in number of rGO layers, defect density and sp² domain size have been investigated in detail by Raman spectroscopic technique. Both qualitative-quantitative analysis of rGO nanosheets have been discussed from their SAED pattern and HR-TEM images. The optical characterization of GO and corresponding rGO nanosheets has been studied in detail by UV- Vis spectroscopic technique.