Large area orientation films based on graphene oxide self-assembly and low-temperature thermal reduction

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) have many outstanding physical and mechanical properties. Uniform and thickness controllable RGO films with large area were prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly at a liquid/air interface on glass substrates in combination with low temperature thermal reduction at 200 degrees C. This process has the advantage of good compatibility with flexible and non-flexible substrates. The films are of centimeter scale and their thickness can be controlled. The structural evolution was characterized. The obtained thermal RGO films exhibit excellent optical properties, a high elastic modulus of 76.18 GPa, and a hardness of 6.89 GPa. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4764549]