Facile synthesis of graphene via reduction of graphene oxide by artemisinin in ethanol

• Published in: Journal of Materiomics Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 256 - 265
• Main Authors: Hou, Dandan, Liu, Qinfu, Wang, Xianshuai, Quan, Ying, Qiao, Zhichuan, Yu, Li, Ding, Shuli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Artemisinin; Graphene oxide; Green reduction; Nanostructures; Graphene oxide; Nanostructures; Green reduction; Artemisinin
• ISSN: 2352-8478
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmat.2018.01.002

The preparation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) by chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) usually involves highly toxic reducing agents which are harmful to the environment and human health. In this paper, a mediated facile and relative green approach for the preparation of RGO in ethanol using artemisinin as a reducing agent is reported for the first time. The morphology and de-oxidation efficiency of the obtained RGO were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that artemisinin can effectively reduce GO into few-layered RGO with a high carbon to oxygen ratio (11.7). The mechanism for elimination of oxygen-containing functional groups decorated on GO nanosheets by artemisinin was proposed. The important features of relatively environmentally friendly and facile operation procedures endow this approach with great promise in the mass production of RGO and various graphene-based materials, especially for biomaterials. [Display omitted] •The artemisinin was used for the reduction of graphene oxide.•The obtained few layered graphene exhibited high carbon to oxygen ratio.•The mechanism for reduction of graphene oxide with artemisinin was proposed.•This approach can be applied in the preparation of graphene-based bio-materials.