Interactions Between Graphene Oxide and Rare Earth Metal Ion La(III)

Abstract

Hybrid graphene oxide (GO) with metal ions have become very promising for many applications including catalyst, thermal conductive paper, magnetic devices, energy storage and electronics. In this paper, GO was mixed with trivalent rare earth ions, LaCl 3 to prepare GO/ LaCl 3 hybrid composites. The GO/ LaCl 3 hybrid composites were tunable by controlling the ratio of LaCl 3 to GO. The interaction between GO and LaCl 3 includes the coordination of La 3+ with carboxyl groups at the edges of GO, the coordination of La 3+ with epoxides and hydroxyls, and the electrostatic force between La 3+ and aromatic bonds of GO. The La 3+ preferred the coordination with the oxygen-containing groups of GO sheets first. However, the electrostatic absorption of La 3+ was the main factor that controls the deposit of GO/ LaCl 3 composites. The GO/ LaCl 3 hybrid structures were also investigated.