Preparation of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide by radiation-induced chemical reduction of sulfonated graphene oxide

We report the preparation of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (SRGO) by the sulfonation of graphene oxide followed by radiation-induced chemical reduction. Graphene oxide prepared by the well-known modified Hummer's method was sulfonated with the aryl diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. Sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) dispersed in ethanol was subsequently reduced by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation at various absorbed doses to produce SRGO. The results of optical, chemical, and thermal analyses revealed that SRGO was successfully prepared by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation-induced chemical reduction of the SGO suspension. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of SRGO was increased up to 2.94 S/cm with an increase of the absorbed dose.