Evolution of interlayer water to form gel-like layers in graphene oxide

Graphene oxide is a heavily functionalised form of grapheme that is dispersible in water and other solvents. As water is added to pristine graphene oxide there is formation interlayer water which gradually expands to form a gel-like layer and, as more water is added a more dilute dispersion. We have studied the changes in water structure around graphene oxide nanoparticles and in this proposal we aim to look at the changes in the small angle part of the neutron scattering pattern as graphene oxide is progressively hydrated. Neutron scattering is the only technique that enables the unequivocal determination of the changing role of hydrogen as these materials evolve and the understanding gained from this experiment will be used to optimise the formation and structure of these important liquids and characterise the novel liquid crystal phases that can form at high concentrations.

氧化石墨烯（graphene oxide）是一种高度功能化的石墨烯（graphene）形式，可分散于水及其他溶剂中。当向原始氧化石墨烯中加水时，会形成层间水，其会逐渐膨胀形成类凝胶层；随着加水量增加，体系将形成更稀的分散体系。我们此前已针对氧化石墨烯纳米颗粒（graphene oxide nanoparticles）周围的水结构变化开展了研究，在本提案中，我们旨在探究氧化石墨烯逐步水合过程中，中子散射（neutron scattering）图谱的小角区域变化。中子散射是唯一可明确测定这类材料演化过程中氢元素作用变化的技术手段，本实验获得的认知将用于优化这类重要液体的形成过程与结构，并表征高浓度条件下可形成的新型液晶相（liquid crystal phases）。