Material Characterization of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide Using Resonance Methods

This study investigates the impact of chemical reduction on the structural and electromagnetic properties of GO and reduced rGO. Using the modified Hummers method for GO synthesis and ascorbic acid as a reducing agent, we prepared samples with varying mass densities (1.96 mg/cm² and 2.21 mg/cm²). Thickness measurements revealed notable reductions post-reduction, highlighting structural changes likely due to the removal of oxygen-containing functional groups. Electromagnetic characterization was performed using SPDR and SiPDR techniques. The SPDR method provided dielectric constant and loss tangent values for GO, demonstrating the influence of mass density on polarization and energy dissipation. Meanwhile, SiPDR measurements revealed a decrease in resistivity and a increase in conductivity for rGO samples, with conductivity reaching up to 572.24 S/m. These results underscore the effectiveness of the reduction process in restoring and enhancing the intrinsic electrical properties of graphene.