Exfoliation of Graphite Oxide in Electric Field

A new exfoliation approach for graphite oxide is reported. In this approach, an electric field is applied on graphite oxide aqueous dispersion to exfoliate graphite oxide plates. Structural evolution of graphite oxide have been monitored by optical microscopy during reaction process. The exfoliated samples are characterized by means of UV-Visible absorption spectrum, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results show that 65% graphite oxide has been exfoliated to single-layered graphene oxide after 3 hours' reaction. Additionally, a simple mechanism of electric exfoliation graphite oxide is proposed based on the observation of evolution of graphite oxide plates during the exfoliating process.