Electrical current mediated interconversion between graphene oxide to reduced grapene oxide

In this work, we demonstrate that graphene oxide (GO) can be reversibly converted to reduced-graphene-oxide (rGO) through the use of electric current. Strong electric field could cause ionization of water molecules in air to generate H+ ions at cathode, causing GO to be reduced. When the bias is reversed, the same electrode becomes positive and OH-ions are produced. According to Le Chatelier Principle, it then favors the reverse reaction, converting rGO back to GO, GO+2H(+)+2e(-) = > rGO+H2O. X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were carried to verify the conversion reversibility in the reversed process. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3580762]