Cathleen Webb

The synthesis and characterization of graphene oxides based on a modified approach

Graphene (G), and its derivatives, is an ideal two-dimensional material. It is comprised of a single sheet of hexagonally packed carbon atoms. Graphene has attracted significant research interest because of its excellent elastic, optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Currently there are some synthesis methods regarding graphene production on the macroscopic-scale level; however, these methods, such as chemical vapor deposition, are expensive. A method for large-scale growth of graphene using widely accessible equipment is currently not an option. In this report, we select an approach based on the Modified Hummer’s method. A comparison is given between the Hummer’s method and the modified Hummer’s method based on extended characterizations using TG for their thermal stability, FTIR for their functional groups, TEM for their surface diagram, UV–Vis for their photo-activity, Raman spectroscopy for the identification of GO quality, and electrochemical methods for their reduction potentials.

Hydrogen-bonded sodium–organic frameworks from imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid

Coordination polymers [Na(Hidc)(H2idc)(H2O)2] (1) and [Na(Hidc)(H2O)] (2) (H2idc = imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized hydrothermally and analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, TGA, and IR. Compound 1 displays a 1-D coordination network and 2 exhibits a layered coordination structure. Both compounds form 3-D frameworks through hydrogen bonds.