Aerogels based on graphene oxide with addition of carbon nanotubes: Synthesis and properties

Abstract

Nowadays numerous sorbents based on graphene and other carbon nanomaterials have been synthesized for the removal or collecting of oil remains due to its unique physico-chemical properties. Obtaining of aerogels based on graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes with addition of chitosan solution as a binder component is shown in this paper. Aerogels were synthesized by reduction of aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide using the reducing agents, followed by ultrasonic and thermal treatment. Ultrasound destroys the graphene layers, decreasing them in size, thereby exposing new layers to form edges that already have no stabilizing carboxyl groups, which are located at the edges, and participate in the formation of bonds. The surface morphology of obtained aerogels was studied by SEM. The study of the sorption capacity showed that graphene/CNTs aerogel is characterized by short absorption time and high sorption ability that depend on densities of the used solvents. All experimental results show the possibility of using the aerogels based on graphene and CNTs as sorbents for collection of oil residues.