Preparation, Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of Reduced Graphene Sheet Films

TLDR

The study aims to prepare, characterize, and evaluate the electrochemical behavior of reduced graphene sheet films for redox and electrocatalytic applications. Reduced graphene sheets were synthesized by graphite oxidation, ultrasonic exfoliation, and chemical reduction, and their electrochemical properties were probed using cyclic voltammetry with several redox species. Microscopy, diffraction, and spectroscopic analyses confirm successful graphene synthesis, while the films exhibit rapid electron‑transfer kinetics and strong electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction and biomolecules, establishing a benchmark for graphene electrodes.

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes the preparation, characterization, and electrochemical properties of reduced graphene sheet films (rGSFs), investigating especially their electrochemical behavior for several redox systems and electrocatalytic properties towards oxygen and some small molecules. The reduced graphene sheets (rGSs) are produced in high yield by a soft chemistry route involving graphite oxidation, ultrasonic exfoliation, and chemical reduction. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy clearly demonstrate that graphene was successfully synthesized and modified at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. Several redox species, such as Ru(NH 3 ) 6 3+/2+ , Fe(CN) 6 3−/4− , Fe 3+/2+ and dopamine, are used to probe the electrochemical properties of these graphene films by using the cyclic voltammetry method. The rGSFs demonstrate fast electron‐transfer (ET) kinetics and possess excellent electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction and certain biomolecules. In our opinion, this microstructural and electrochemical information can serve as an important benchmark for graphene‐based electrode performances.