Qualitative analysis of reduction degree in reduced graphene oxide solution by femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

A new approach for the qualitative analysis of reduction degree through the ratio of carbon and oxygen (C:O) in reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) solution by femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) was proposed. Firstly, graphene oxide solution was reduced by irradiation with fs laser beams with different energies; subsequently, the carbon and oxygen content was detected through the changes in the intensity of carbon and oxygen obtained by fs-LIBS. The ratio (C:O) and the oxygen content of the observed data by LIBS were associated with the fs laser radiated energies; it was evident that the ratio increased and the oxygen content decreased with the incremented fs laser radiated energies. Fs-LIBS realized online detecting and qualitative analysis of the reduction degree of GO solutions. This method displays a prompt and time-saving way for detecting the reduction degree of r-GO solutions and can promote the applications of r-GO with different reduction degrees.