Reduced Graphene Oxide-Resorcinol Nanocomposite: A Chemosensor for the Detection of Cerium Ions

Abstract

A hybrid material reduced graphene oxide based organic nanocomposite was synthesized from graphite by modified Hummers method, which is further chemically reduced to form reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and with resorcinol through a solvothermal process a reduced graphene oxide-resorcinol (rGO-R) nanocomposite was obtained. The synthesized materials surface morphology and structural compositions were studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and their optical properties were studied through UV-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence. The material was further used as a fluorescent chemosensor to detect cerium ion under aqueous conditions. The rGO-R composite’s sensing abilities were studied by following parameters viz. pH, reversibility, time and the interference of other probable competing ions. The sensing follows both the photo-induced electron transfer and intramolecular charge transfer processes.