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, LaCl3 to prepare GO/LaCl3 hybrid composites. The GO/LaCl3 hybrid composites were tunable by controlling the ratio of LaCl3 to GO. The interaction between GO and LaCl3 includes the coordination of La3+ with carboxyl groups at the edges of GO, the coordination of La3+ with epoxides and hydroxyls, and the electrostatic force between La3+ and aromatic bonds of GO. The La3+ preferred the coordination with the oxygen-containing groups of GO sheets first. However, the electrostatic absorption of La3+ was the main factor that controls the deposit of GO/LaCl3 composites. The GO/LaCl3 hybrid structures were also investigated.