Contribution of the parameters affecting the synthesis of graphene materials

Both graphene and graphene oxide (GO) materials will be synthesised. Graphene will be obtained by the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite through the application of a voltage to graphite foils in an aqueous solution of sulphate salts. The materials will then be collected, purified, and studied both in suspension and in powder form. GO will be obtained by the chemical oxidation of graphite in water following the well-known modified Hummers method. The oxidation process can be modified in several parts through the DoE to tune the final product characteristics. Both graphene and GO materials can undergo a final step of sonication. GFMs with characteristics of interest from a morphological and biological point of view will be functionalized with different chemical groups, such as amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) groups, by treating the GFMs under specific conditions.