Preparation of Graphene Oxide from Expanded Graphite at Different Microwave Heating Times

Ahmed A Moosa (Department of Materials Engineering Technology, Technical Engineering College – Baghdad, Middle Technical University, Baghdad,)
Zainab H. Mahdi (Department of Building and Construction Technology Engineering, Technical Engineering College– Baghdad, Middle Technical University, Baghdad)
Mohammed A. Mutar (Department of Materials Engineering Technology, Technical Engineering College – Baghdad, Middle Technical University, Baghdad,)

Journal of Engineering and Technological Sciences
Vol. 53 No. 3 (2021)

Exfoliated graphite (EG)  was prepared by mixing graphite with HNO3 and KMnO4 at weight ratio 1:2:1 using microwave heating at times 20, 60, 80 and 120 sec. Graphene  oxide (GO) was then prepared using EG as precursor by the modified Hummer’s method. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses  showed successful conversion of EG into GO. The XRD results of the GO showed that the maximum interplanar distance (d-spacing) increased from 0.344 to 0.831 nm. The AFM showed a minimum thickness of  0.519 nm for a single layer of GO prepared from EG 80 sec. The XRD examination also showed an increase in the d-spacing between the GO layers after sonication compared to before sonication.