Laser-induced chemical transformation of graphene oxide-iron oxide nanoparticles composites deposited on polymer substrates

Ultraviolet laser irradiation of films composed of graphene oxide (GO) and GO-magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles deposited on polydimethylsiloxane substrates is carried out. The irradiations are performed in vacuum and ammonia-rich gas environments. Electron and scanning probe microscopies reveal a rippling process in GO sheets as the accumulation of laser pulses proceeds, being the effect more pronounced with the increase of laser fluence. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses point to laser-induced chemical reaction pathways in GO completely different depending on the environment and the presence or absence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. It is demonstrated that GO-based films with diverse type of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing chemical groups can be obtained by means of laser irradiation processes. The sheet resistance of these materials is also correlated to their structure and composition. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.