Synthesis of Nitrogen Doped Graphene through Microwave Irradiation

Graphite oxide was synthesized with Staudenmaier method using natural flake graphite as carbon source. After graphite oxide was impregnated into ammonium carbonate saturated solution, NH4+ intercalated graphite oxide was given. Rapid thermal exfoliation and reduction of NH4+ intercalated graphite oxide to graphene was achieved as well as the nitrogen―doping of graphene under the condition of microwave irradiation. SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, XPS and Raman were performed to characterize the synthesized nitrogen―doping of graphene. The synthesized nitrogen―doped graphene was transparent and wrinkled with 2―5 graphite layers. The nitrogen content of as―prepared nitrogen―doped graphene was 1.56wt%, corresponding to pyridinc N, pyrrolic N and graphitic N incorporated into the graphitic network.