Properties of Graphite Oxide Powders and Membranes as Revealed by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The spin probe technique was used to study graphite oxide (GO) powders swelled in polar liquids (CH3CN, CH3OH, and H2O) and liquid-free GO membranes (GOM). The nitroxide radicals TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) and TEMPOL (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) readily penetrated into the interplane space of GO from the solution. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of these radical probes were sensitive to molecular mobility and orientation ordering within the internal space of GO. The radicals embedded in swelled GO were in two states with different rotational mobilities. The small fraction of radicals located in the interplane space of GO and detected in the broad range of temperatures was in the state of fast rotation, similar to the same radicals dissolved in bulk liquids, thus providing experimental evidence of formation of a liquid-like media within the interplane space of GO. Such mobile media may be responsible for the unusual permeation properties of GOM, which is ...