Easy and green synthesis of reduced graphite oxide-based hydrogels

Zhuyin Sui, Xuetong Zhang*, Yu Lei, Yunjun Luo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

263 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report an environmentally-friendly and easy to scale-up route to synthesize reduced graphite oxide (RGO) hydrogel by simple reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide (GO) with excess vitamin C (VC). Mono-layer graphene sheets self-assembling into a well-defined and interconnected 3D porous network through π-π interaction during gelation can be seen by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images. The RGO hydrogels were further functionalized and the corresponding RGO/carbon nanotube or RGO/noble metal hybrid hydrogels were obtained after similar reduction or co-reduction when carbon nanotubes were added to and stabilized with GO sheets or when noble metal precursors were added and incorporated with GO sheets. Rheological performance and electrical conductivities of these RGO-based hydrogels were also investigated in this study. The residual VC retained in these hydrogels as a biofunctional component can be gradually released in a diffusion-controlled manner, which may endow these RGO-based hydrogels with a biofunctionality. Because encapsulated bioactive VC simultaneously occurs with the formation of these assemblies, the resulting RGO-based hydrogels may have great potential in use as transdermal systems for controlled delivery of VC, tissue engineering, biosensors, etc.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4314-4321
Number of pages8
JournalCarbon
Volume49
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Easy and green synthesis of reduced graphite oxide-based hydrogels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this