preprints.org > chemistry and materials science > biomaterials > doi: 10.20944/preprints202103.0657.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 25 March 2021 / Approved: 26 March 2021 / Online: 26 March 2021 (11:22:26 CET)

Nanographene oxide (GOn) constitutes a nanomaterial of high value in the biomedical field. However, large scale production of highly stable aqueous dispersions of GOn is yet to be achieved. In this work, we explored high-power ultrasonication as a method to reduce particle size of GO and characterized the impact of the process in the physico-chemical properties of the material. GOn was obtained with lateral dimensions of 99 ±43 nm and surface charge of −39.9 ± 2.2 mV. High-power ultrasonication enabled an improvement of stability features, particularly by resulting in a decrease of the average particle size, as well as zeta potential, in comparison to GO obtained by low-power exfoliation and centrifugation (287 ± 139 nm; −29.7 ± 1.2 mV). Re-markably, GOn aqueous dispersions were stable for up to 6 months of shelf-time, with a global process yield of 74%. This novel method enabled the production of large volumes of highly con-centrated (7.5 mg mL-1) GOn aqueous dispersions. Chemical characterization of GOn allowed the identification of characteristic oxygen functional groups, supporting high-power ultrasonication as a fast, efficient and productive process for reducing GO lateral size, while maintaining the material’s chemical features.

graphene; graphene oxide; particle size; stability; standardization; surface chemistry; nanomaterials

Chemistry and Materials Science, Biomaterials

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