Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate as reducing agent for the efficient reduction of graphene oxide nanosheets

By using dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4 center dot 3H(2)O), an efficient and environmentally friendly route for the reduction of the exfoliated graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) is reported in this work. The chemically reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (RGO) have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Field emission transmission electron microscopy, Atomic force microscopy, and Thermogravimetric analysis. Considering the analysis results, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate plays a key role in the efficient removal of the oxygen-containing groups in GO, which avoids the use of high toxic and hazardous reducing agents commonly used to obtain RGO in chemical reduction of GO. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate itself and prepared graphene are environmentally friendly and inexpensive, which may open new opportunities for mass production of graphene by reducing GO. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.