Keywords
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) has emerged as one of the most versatile two-dimensional materials
owing to its tunable structure and rich surface chemistry. However, the controlled synthesis of GO
with high oxygen functionality and desirable morphology remains a key challenge. In this work,
Graphene oxide (GO) was successfully synthesized from graphite using the modified Tour method.
The synthesis process, which required approximately 7 h, was followed by freeze-drying for 24 h to
obtain stable nanosheets. The structural and chemical features of the obtained GO were examined by
XRD, FTIR, and TEM analyses. XRD revealed a prominent diffraction peak at 2θ ≈ 11.2°,
corresponding to an interlayer spacing of ~0.79 nm, which is more than twice that of pristine graphite,
confirming efficient oxidation and intercalation of oxygen functionalities. FTIR spectra further
identified hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups, providing strong evidence of successful
oxidation. TEM micrographs displayed thin, wrinkled sheets with transparent regions, characteristic of
few-layer GO. These findings demonstrate that the adopted synthesis route enables the production of
GO with expanded interlayer spacing, abundant active sites, and flexible sheet-like morphology. Such
properties make the material particularly attractive for energy-related applications, including
photocatalysis and hydrogen production under visible light.