Graphite oxide Auger-electron diagnostics

Graphite oxide (GO) nanofilms on the SiO2/Si surface have been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with synchrotron radiation and by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Auger electron energies were determined for the basic functional GO groups: hydroxyl (COH) and epoxide (COC). The data obtained enabled developing a technique for the GO chemical and elemental composition determination. The technique allows controlling the hydrogen content in GO despite the impossibility of Auger emission from hydrogen.