Zahra Komeily Nia
Deakin University, Australia
Title: Graphene radicals : Manipulations and applications
Biography
Biography: Zahra Komeily Nia
Abstract
Free radicals have many functions, for example, as catalyst for chemical reactions and anti-oxidants in personal care products. However, most of the radical species used in industrial processes are highly toxic, expensive and not stable. Developing green, low-cost and stable free radicals is hence signifi cant. It has been revealed that radicals exist on the edge and defects of graphene. Th e radicals have been found to be ultra-stable and non-toxic. Th eir stability is attributed to the rigid π-conjugated planar structure of graphene which acts like a physical barrier for the radicals and prevents them to react with each other. Although the presence of graphene radicals has been demonstrated, little is known on how to control their production. Furthermore, the potential applications of graphene radicals remain largely unexplored. To understand graphene radical and its formation, chemical oxidation and exfoliation of graphite followed by diff erent reduction method was used as a technique for mass production of graphene. Th e chemical characterisation of GO and reduced GO samples beside the free radical measurments has indicated that the maximum radical content could be obtained on GO samples with a specifi c atomic ratio of carbon to oxygen. Th is means over oxidizing or over reducing of GO can decrease the radical population on its surface