Fabrication of controllable graphene aerogel with superior adsorption capacity for organic solvents

Controllable graphene aerogel with relative homopores was fabricated with the assistance of block copolymer (P123) and vacuum drying. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to obtain the optimum temperature for template removal. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were performed to characterise the obtained aerogel. Results showed that P123 was successfully removed on the surface, and a controlled multi-level porous structure was generated. The optimum ratio of GO and P123 was 1:4 (ca. 2.5 mg/ml), and the adsorption capacities of the produced aerogels for methylene blue, oils and organic solvents were excellent and superior to those aerogels fabricated by traditional approaches. Adsorption kinetics were also further studied.