Electrochemically prepared colloidal, oxidised graphite

A convenient electrochemical method has been developed for the preparation of a functionalised, colloidal graphite (oxide). The method involves the anodic erosion of graphite electrodes by the generated oxygen when using current densities less than 3 mA cm(-2). The suggested mechanism of formation involves the loss of an electron to form the radical cation followed by hydration to form the enol which is in tautomeric equilibrium with a keto group. The surface areas of the colloid were typically 50-80 m(2) g(-1). The particle size distributions were trimodal for ethanoic acid and water but trimodal for sulfuric acid. However, the particle size ranges were significantly wider (40-870 nm) when ethanoic acid was used as the electrolyte than when sulfuric was used (40-630 nm). The colloid had an ion exchange capacity of 7 mmol g(-1) for a monovalent cation. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of hydroxy (3442 cm(-1)) and keto groups (1727 cm(-1)). Electrochemical reduction led to the formation of alcohol and aliphatic hydrocarbon groups.