High-quality graphene via microwave reduction of solution-exfoliated graphene oxide

Abstract

Efficient exfoliation of graphite in solutions to obtain high-quality graphene flakes is desirable for printable electronics, catalysis, energy storage, and composites. Graphite oxide with large lateral dimensions has an exfoliation yield of ~100% but it has not been possible to completely remove the oxygen functional groups so that the reduced form of graphene oxide (GO) remains a highly disordered material. Here, we report a simple, rapid method to reduce GO (rGO) into pristine graphene using 1- to 2-second pulses of microwaves. The excellent structural properties are translated into mobility values of > 1000 centimeter squared per volt per second in field effect transistors (FETs) with MW-rGO as the channel material and in exceptionally high activity for MW-rGO catalyst support toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER).