X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of reduced graphene oxide prepared by a novel green method

• Surface characterization of graphene obtained through reduction of graphite oxide.
• Reduction by a green method.
• Chemical characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

This work is focused on the surface characterization of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) obtained through reduction of graphite oxide. The reduction was performed using a green method (based on UV irradiation under N2) with low environmental impact, free of additional functionalization reagents, simple and low-cost.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was applied for chemical characterization of surface C species showing a significant reduction of oxygen-containing functional groups from the surface of rGO.