Reduced graphene oxide synthesis by dry planetary ball milling technique under hydrogen atmosphere

Abstract

This study reports a new, versatile and eco-friendly approach to produce high quality and high purity reduced graphene oxide (graphene) from natural graphite by dry planetary ball milling technique under hydrogen atmosphere. The morphology, structure and composition of high purity graphite (HPG), graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/graphene have been characterized using various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD and XPS studies reveal the successful reduction of oxygen content from GO to prepare RGO. The RGO product analyzed by XRD and SAED show the efficient restoration of the hexagonal graphitic structure. From XPS result it is evident that the RGO has a C/O ratio of 17.51 which is among the best RGOs prepared with green reducing agents. TEM further provides clear support of the formation of graphene sheets in RGO.