Synthesis of high quality reduced graphene oxide nanosheets free of paramagnetic metallic impurities

Abstract

A facile and cost-effective method to prepare paramagnetic-metal free graphene nanosheets based on stannous chloride reduction of graphene oxide (GO) in a strongly acidic medium is reported. Simultaneous exfoliation and reduction is achieved in this room temperature process. Compared to the chemical reduction of GO using hydrazine or iron, the present method showed that Sn–rGO is several orders of magnitude less magnetic and hence does not contain any paramagnetic metallic impurities. With high reduction degree, this simple method shows promising application in energy and magnetic related studies.