Electron-irradiation-induced reinforcement of reduced graphene oxide papers

EZ Jin and JY He and KX Sheng and ZL Zhang and GQ Shi and QS Zheng, ACTA MATERIALIA, 61, 6466-6473 (2013).

DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2013.07.025

Here we show that the graphene sheets in reduced graphene oxide papers (rGOPs) can be cross-linked by electron-irradiation-induced sp(3) carbon atoms, resulting in significant enhancements in both the mechanical and electrical properties compared to unirradiated rGOPs. We find that the residual oxygen-containing functional groups in rGOPs are removed during irradiation. We also observe that the Wigner energy release temperature in rGOPs is 102-188 degrees C, which is lower than that (similar to 200 degrees C) in pure graphite. The mechanisms to form sp(3) cross-links and the evolutions of sp(3) carbon atoms under irradiation are revealed through molecular dynamics simulations. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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