Graphene oxide modifications by X-rays irradiations in air and vacuum

Graphene oxide (GO) foils have been exposed to X-rays in air and in vacuum. The attenuated total reflectance (ATR) method for Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used to analyze the pristine and the irradiated GO foils. The X-ray exposition in air produces oxidation increment, while in vacuum it induces reduction of the oxygen functional groups and partial removal of water. These processes have been investigated as a function of both the irradiation time and X-ray energy distribution highlighting the variations of some functional groups of oxygen. Some interesting applications of the GO reduction will be suggested in the field of ionization dosimetry, detectors, microelectronic devices, and membranes, as presented hereafter.