Valence band of graphite oxide

We investigated the valence band structure of graphite oxide by photoelectron spectroscopy at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Korea. The typical sp(2) hybridization states found in graphite were also seen in graphite oxide. However, the pi state disappeared near the Fermi level because of bonding between the pi and oxygen-related states originating from graphite oxide, indicating electron transfer from graphite to oxygen and resulting in a downward shift of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) state to higher binding energies. The band gap opening increased to about 1.8 eV, and additional oxygen-related peaks were observed at 8.5 and 27 eV. The electronic states of graphite were also found in graphite oxide. Thus, graphite oxide has an electronic structure similar to that of pristine graphite except for the states near the Fermi level and oxygen-related states. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2010