Synthesis of low temperature thermally exfoliated graphene and MnO2 thereon by microwave irradiation: an eco-friendly approach

Hasmukh Gajera1* and L. M.Manocha2

1. School of Science, GSFC University, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA
2. DRDO Distinguished Fellow, DMSRDE, Kanpur, INDIA

The thermally exfoliated graphene was synthesized using chemical oxidation of graphite by modified Hummers method followed by thermal exfoliation at low temperature (230oC). A green and eco-friendly approach (hydrothermal microwave irradiation technique) has been used to synthesis MnO2 nano rods on the thermally exfoliated graphene (TEG) using KMnO4 as MnO2 precursor. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning and Transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM) and thermal analysis have been used to characterize structure, surface morphology and thermal stability of the as prepared TEG and MnO2-TEG nano composite. MnO2 nano rods were grown on graphene sheets and confirmed by presence of additional peaks in Raman spectra. TEM results also clearly show the nano rod like MnO2 growth on graphene sheets. The obtained results demonstrate that this hydrothermal microwave irradiation technique could be a promising eco-friendly approach to synthesis of graphene-metal oxide hybrid materials.