Do you know graphene oxide?

The US President recently said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine had driven up the prices of all the world's major food staples, including wheat, corn, barley, oilseeds and edible oils, and that Russia and Ukraine together supplied more than 25% of the world's wheat exports and about 20% of its barley exports. 

To address the food shortage, the Biden administration says it plans to increase the number of counties eligible for insurance for double cropping. Double cropping is when farmers grow two different crops a year on the same field. 

Under Biden's plan, the number of counties eligible for two-season crop insurance would increase by 681, for a total of 1,935. 

The UN has warned that up to 1.7bn people are "highly exposed" to the domino effect of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the global food, energy, and financial systems.  The agency says conflict could increase hunger in countries where people are already suffering from malnutrition.

Even countries where food is less scarce are being hit by rising prices. U.S. grocery prices rose 1% in April, compared with a 10.8% increase over the past 12 months, the Labor Department said recently.

According to the White House, global food prices have risen nearly 13 percent since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Besides, affected by the ever-changing international situation, the supply and prices of international bulk Graphene oxide are still very uncertain.

Graphene oxide is formed by the oxidation of graphite powder by strong acid, and it is a single layer of graphite oxide. Graphene oxide is widely used in sensors, solar cells, optoelectronics and biomedicine.

1. What is graphene oxide?

Graphene oxide is an oxide formed by the oxidation of graphite by strong acid. It adopts the oxidation reaction of potassium permanganate in concentrated sulfuric acid and graphite powder to obtain a tan edge derivative carboxylic acid base and phenolic epoxy group on the plane. The graphite flake layer can be exfoliated into graphene oxide by ultrasonic or strong mixing or high shear, forming a stable light yellow monolayer graphene oxide suspension in water.

The structure of graphene oxide is shown in the following figure:

Second, the use of graphene oxide

As a derivative of graphene, graphene oxide is oxidized by strong acid, and its oxygen-containing groups make graphene oxide chemically stable, which is beneficial to the synthesis of graphene-based composite materials. Graphene oxide is a new type of carbon material with excellent properties and has wide application prospects.

1. Optoelectronics

Organic thin film transistors and their light-responsive devices, such as the use of graphene oxide, can increase the type and thickness of the insulating layer and enhance the characteristics of the transistor.

2. Solar cells

Comparable photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) can be obtained by using graphene oxide instead of conducting polymer (PEDOT:PSS) as the hole transport layer of polymer solar cells. When the thickness of the graphene oxide film is 2 nm, the photoelectric conversion efficiency is the highest.

3. Flexible sensor

Due to its good hydrophilicity, large surface area, and good dispersion, graphene is a good sensor material, especially in the field of flexible sensors.

4. Biological aspects

Parameters such as size, surface charge, number of layers, lateral dimensions, and surface chemistry of graphene oxide and its derivatives have corresponding effects on biological systems, and have been extensively clinically studied as medical materials.

Third, the harm of graphene oxide to the human body

It has only been ten years since graphene was discovered in the laboratory. The development of graphene is still in its infancy, and there are still material safety data and understanding of potential hazards in the application of graphene. Graphene oxide is widely used as a derivative of graphene, so new things must be applied scientifically.

Two recent studies don't seem to be good news for graphene. First, a Brown University team of biologists, engineers and materials scientists examined the material's potential toxicity to human cells. They found that the jagged edges of the graphene nanoparticles are so sharp and strong that they can easily penetrate the membranes of human skin and immune cells, suggesting that graphene is potentially dangerous to humans and other animals.

High-quality graphene oxide supplier

Luoyang Moon & Star New Energy Technology Co., LTD, founded on October 17, 2008, is a high-tech enterprise committed to developing, producing, processing, selling, and technical services of lithium-ion battery anode materials. After more than 10 years of development, the company has gradually developed into a diversified product structure with natural graphite, artificial graphite, composite graphite, intermediate phase, and other negative materials (silicon-carbon materials, etc.). The products are widely used in high-end lithium-ion digital power and energy storage batteries.

If you are looking for graphene oxide material, click on the needed products and send us an inquiry：sales@graphite-corp.com

At present, international supply chains were shocked, and logistics and transportation efficiency decreases. Geopolitical conflicts further aggravate uncertainties about the European and American economic recovery and the global commodity supply. For this reason, I assume the price of the Graphene oxide would not decrease significantly in the short term.

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