In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by the improved Hummers’ method. The degree of oxidation from graphite (Gi) to GO was determined through interlayer spacing calculated from X–ray diffraction. Besides, the effect of KMnO4: Gi ratios (X1), H2SO4 volume (X2), oxidation temperature (X3), oxidation time of stage 1 (X4), and oxidation time of stage 2 (X5) was screened by the Plackett–Burman model. The simultaneous impact of three factors that influenced the degree of oxidation (X1, X2, and X3) was studied by the Box–Behnken experimental model of response surface methodology to achieve suitable conditions for the GO synthesis process. The characterization of GO product was investigated via the modern analytical methods: X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Inaddition, the study was also carried out on a pilot scale for orientation in industrial application with the yield of 14 g/batch.

In this paper, we presented a hybrid composite of graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-modified three-dimensional graphene nanoribbons (3D GNRs) composite linked by Fe3O4 and CoO nanoparticles through reflux and ultrasonic treatment with GQDs, denoted as 3D GQDs-Fe3O4/CoO@GNRs (3D GFCG). In this hybrid, the 3D GNRs framework strengthened the electrical conductivity and the synergistic effects between GQDs and 3D GFCG enhanced the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the nanocomposite. The results imply that decorating GQDs with other electro-catalysts is an effective strategy to synergistically improve their ORR activity.

Magnetically separable and reusable zinc ferrite/reduced graphene oxide ( ZnFe2O4/rGO) nanocomposite has been prepared by hydrothermal method. The results illustrate that the construction of ZnFe2O4 and rGO occur concurrently in a hydrothermal reaction that initiates the formation of rGO-wrapped ZnFe2O4 nanospheres. The morphological and structural features of the ZnFe2O4/ rGO nanocomposites reveal that the rGO nanosheets anchored to the ZnFe2O4 sphere act as a self-protective clamping layer to avoid the photo corrosion effect under photo irradiations. The nanocomposites express the soft magnetic behavior with high saturation magnetization under annealing temperature at 300 °C, which may attribute to the well-defined crystalline structure and surface defects. In addition, the GZF 300 nanocomposites exhibit the enhanced photocatalytic degradation over Rhodamine B dye which is 3.4, 1.15, and 1.32 times higher than that of ZF, GZF, and GZF 600 over under visible irradiation in 120 min. The GZF 300 nanocomposites demonstrate their ability to degrade RhB efficiently, even after several photocatalysis cycles with high catalyst recovery by its magnetically separable behavior. The high densities of oxygen defects improvise electron transfer from ZnFe2O4 to rGO and delay the recombination process of the nanocomposite, resulting in enhanced visible photocatalytic activity. The strong magnetic properties of rGO wrapped ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite catalysts the easy separation from the suspension system for multiple usages in water treatment.

In this study, UiO-66-NH2 was synthesized and incorporated with graphene aerosol (UiO-66-NH2/GA) and ethylenediamine functionalized graphene oxide (UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2). These composites were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible light spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2 exhibited 93% adsorption of quinoline in 5 h, UiO-66-NH2 and UiO-66-NH2/GA presented 80.4% and 86.5%, respectively. The high adsorption observed on UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2 was attributed to the unique electronic properties, and hydrogen bonding between the nitrogen atom of quinoline and NH2- phenyl fragment of UiO-66-NH2, and N–H of ethylenediamine. GO also offered combined strong π–π interactions on its surface, and the oxygen coverage (~ 50%) on GO within the structure is responsible for the formation of strong hydrogen bonds with quinoline. Theoretical calculation suggested that UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2 presented a more favourable adsorption energy (− 18.584 kcal/ mol) compared to UiO-66-NH2 (− 16.549 kcal/mol) and UiO-66-NH2/GA (− 13.991 kcal/mol). These results indicate that nanocomposites have a potential application in quinoline capture technologies in the process of adsorptive denitrogenation.

The effect of the laser ablation duration of reduced graphene oxide sheets on their optical properties was studied. After 30 min of ablation, the average lateral size of reduced graphene oxide sheets decreases from 347.4 ± 86.5 nm to 98.8 ± 36.0. The sizes of almost all particles are in the range up to 100 nm, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering data. The FTIR spectroscopy data showed that after ablation the intensity of the bands associated with O–H, C–OH and C=O vibrations were noticeably decreased. The optical density and the fluorescence intensity of reduced graphene oxide also depend on the ablation time. After ablation, the reduced graphene oxide fluorescence intensity increased 2–3 times. The fluorescence lifetime decreases both for the first (from 1.36 ns to 0.71 ns) and second (from 6.03 to 3.66 ns) components. A broad band was recorded in the long-lived luminescence spectrum. The long-lived luminescence intensity is higher on 80% for the samples after 30 min of ablation compared to the unablated sample. It was assumed that during laser ablation of reduced graphene oxide a change in the ratio between oxidized and sp2- hybridized carbon occurs. This opens up possibilities for controlling the optical properties of reduced graphene oxide.

For graphene oxide (GO) composite hydrogels, a two-dimensional GO material is introduced into them, whose special structure is used to improve their properties. GO contains abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, which can improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels and support the application needs. Especially, the unique-conjugated structure of GO can endow or enhance the stimulation response of hydrogels. Therefore, GO composite hydrogels have a great potential in the field of wearable devices. We referred to the works published in recent years, and reviewed from these aspects: (a) structure of GO; (b) factors affecting the mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel, including hydrogen bond, ionic bond, coordination bond and physical crosslinking; (c) stimuli and signals; (d) challenges. Finally, we summarized the research progress of GO composite hydrogels in the field of wearable devices, and put forward some prospects.

As frontier materials, graphene oxide (GO) and graphene have penetrated almost all research areas and advanced numerous technologies in sensing, electronics, energy storage, catalysis, water treatment, advanced composites, biomedical, and more. However, the affordable large-scale synthesis of high-quality GO and graphene remains a significant challenge that negatively affects its commercialisation. In this article, firstly, a simple, scalable approach was demonstrated to synthesise high-quality, high yield GO by modifying the improved Hummers method. The advantages of the optimised process are reduced oxidation time, straightforward washing steps without using coagulation step, reduction in cost as eliminating the use of phosphoric acid, use of minimum chemical reagents, and increased production of GO per batch (~ 62 g). Subsequently, the produced GO was reduced to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using three different approaches: green reduction using ascorbic acid, hydrothermal and thermal reduction techniques. The GO and rGO samples were characterised using various microscopy and spectroscopy techniques such as XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM, XPS and TGA. The rGO prepared using different methods were compared thoroughly, and it was noticed that rGO produced by ascorbic acid reduction has high quality and high yield. Furthermore, surface (surface wettability, zeta potential and surface area) and electrical properties of GO and different rGO were evaluated. The presented synthesis processes might be potentially scaled up for large-scale production of GO and rGO.