What is graphene oxide?
Graphene oxide (GO) is an oxidized derivative of graphene. It is a two dimensional carbon compound that consists of one or few layers of carbon atoms. GO has oxygen-containing functional groups attached to both sides of the carbon plane and at the edges. The number of layers and the Carbon/Oxygen ratio define the quality and application areas for the GO.
Graphene Oxide is a nanomaterial that has been developed as a substitute to graphene which is very expensive and hard to produce. GO has proven to have specific properties that make it even more suitable than graphene for some applications such as membranes for water and air purification.
The peculiar surface structure of graphene oxide provides unique properties, that are very different from graphene. Thanks to its surface functionality, GO can easily be dispersed and processed in water as single-layer material. Moreover, when it is used as a functional additive, it can easily bound to the matrix components and effectively transfer its functional properties to the final material.
GO has a high surface area and it is suitable for the manufacturing of membranes that adsorb contaminant such as heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS (harmful perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Graphene Oxide is also used as an easy-to-process precursor of graphene. GO is easily dispersed in water, applied as functional additive, and then reduced to graphene during the production process, leading to a final product showing the high thermal and electrical conductivity of graphene together with the process flexibility of GO.
GO is made through oxidation of graphite, which is cheap and abundant. In LayerOne we have developed a proprietary method that makes large scale production of customized variants of the GO surface possible. Customization is beneficial to ensure optimal blending with matrix material when GO is used as functional additive. We deliver GO pastes and powders that are suitable for use in water and air filtration membranes, anti-corrosion and anti-abrasion coatings, and barrier packaging material.
It can be challenging to understand which properties, quality and GO structure is suitable for your specific product, and our scientists can support you in the development of the ideal GO material to satisfy your specific needs.
