Low-cost preparation of a conductive and catalytic graphene film from chemical reduction with AlI3

AlI3 synthesized by I2 and Al in ethanol was used as reductive agent to directly obtain flexible reductive graphene oxide (RGO) films with high conductivity of 5320 S/m from graphene oxide (GO) films at a low temperature of 80 °C. This reductive method has provided a low-cost and effective route for large-scale production of graphene with high catalytic activity. Structural evolution during the reduction of GO was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The RGO films served as counter electrode exhibited high electrochemical activity.