Magnetic properties of graphite oxide and reduced graphene oxide

Graphite oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) have been prepared using standard chemical methods. The formations of the oxides are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies. Both the oxides exhibit weak superparamagnetism and hysteresis for the first time at room temperature. Magnetic moment for RGO is comparatively smaller than that of GO sample. The superparamagnetism in these oxides is attributed to the presence of single domains, each domain being cluster of defect induced magnetic moments coupled by ferromagnetic interaction. Apart from these single domain clusters there are other defect induced moments coupled by ferromagnetic interaction which show ferromagnetism and hysteresis. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.