Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Examining the interlayer interactions formed between reduced graphene oxide and ionic liquids

  • Research Letters
  • Published:
MRS Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is important to understand the electrolyte–electrode interactions for fabricating graphene oxide (GO)- and ionic liquid (IL)-based ultracapacitors. Therefore, we explored how the type and size of the cations in various ILs determine the nature of processed materials. In all cases, the ILs intercalate into the graphitic structure but marked differences are observed during exfoliation via thermal reduction. The combination of a long alkyl chain ammonium-based cation and a large-volume anion leads to strong interactions and defect formation, as evidenced by CO2 production during annealing. In contrast, using the same anions but different cations stabilize the GO functional groups below 400 °C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. Park and R.S. Ruoff: Chemical methods for the production of graphenes. Nat. Nanotechnol. 4, 217 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. M.D. Stoller, S. Park, Y. Zhu, J. An, and R.S. Ruoff: Graphene-based ultracapacitors. Nano Lett. 8, 3498 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. P. Simon and Y. Gogotsi: Materials for electrochemical capacitors. Nat. Mater. 7, 845 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. C. Liu, Z. Yu, D. Neff, A. Zhamu, and B.Z. Jang: Graphene-based supercapacitor with an ultrahigh energy density. Nano Lett. 10, 4863 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. K. Zhang, L. Mao, L.L. Zhang, H.S.O. Chan, X.S. Zhao, and J. Wu: Surfactant-intercalated, chemically reduced graphene oxide for high performance supercapacitor electrodes. J. Mater. Chem. 21, 7302 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. D.R. Dreyer, S. Park, C.W. Bielawski, and R.S. Ruoff: The chemistry of graphene oxide. Chem. Soc. Rev. 39, 228 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Gilje, S. Han, M. Wang, K.L. Wang, and R.B. Kaner: A chemical route to graphene for device applications. Nano Lett. 7, 3394 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Acik, C. Mattevi, C. Gong, G. Lee, K. Cho, M. Chhowalla, and Y. J. Chabal: The role of intercalated water in multilayered graphene oxide. ACS Nano 4, 5861 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Acik, G. Lee, C. Mattevi, A. Pirkle, R.M. Wallace, M. Chhowalla, K. Cho, and Y.J. Chabal: The role of oxygen during thermal reduction of graphene oxide studied by infrared absorption spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. C 115, 19761 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the full financial support of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering under Award DE-SC001951.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, 75080-3021, USA

    Natis Shafiq, Muge Acik, Juan Juarez & Yves J. Chabal

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA

    Daniel R. Dreyer & Christopher W. Bielawski

Authors
  1. Natis Shafiq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muge Acik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniel R. Dreyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Juan Juarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Christopher W. Bielawski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yves J. Chabal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yves J. Chabal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shafiq, N., Acik, M., Dreyer, D.R. et al. Examining the interlayer interactions formed between reduced graphene oxide and ionic liquids. MRS Communications 3, 67–71 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2013.8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2013.8

Search

Navigation