Self-Propagating Domino-like Reactions in Oxidized Graphite

Graphite oxide (GO) has received extensive interest as a precursor for the bulk production of graphene-based materials. Here, the highly energetic nature of GO, noted from the self-propagating thermal deoxygenating reaction observed in solid state, is explored. Although the resulting graphene product is quite stable against combustion even in a natural gas fl ame, its thermal stability is signifi cantly reduced when contaminated with potassium salt by-products left from GO synthesis. In particular, the contaminated GO becomes highly fl ammable. A gentle touch with a hot soldering iron can trigger violent, catastrophic, total combustion of such GO fi lms, which poses a serious fi re hazard. This highlights the need for effi cient sample purifi cation methods. Typically, purifi cation of GO is hindered by its tendency to gelate as the pH value increases during rinsing. A two-step, acid–acetone washing procedure is found to be effective for suppressing gelation and thus facilitating purifi cation. Salt-induced fl ammability is alarming for the fi re safety of largescale manufacturing, processing, and storage of GO materials. However, the energy released from the deoxygenation of GO can also be harnessed to drive new reactions for creating graphene-based hybrid materials. Through such domino-like reactions, graphene sheets decorated with metal and metal oxide particles are synthesized using GO as the in situ power source. Enhanced electrochemical capacitance is observed for graphene sheets loaded with RuO 2 nanoparticles.