ABSTRACT
Porous graphene with catalytically active ceria nanometre-size particles were prepared using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on graphene produced through chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The reported process provided porous graphene containing ceria nanoparticles as confirmed by HR TEM and XPS. Isotopically labelled 13 C graphene was employed to study desorption of the species containing carbon. Methanol adsorption was utilised to probe the nature of the catalytic activity of prepared ceria decorated graphene. The important role of graphene support for the stabilization of reduced ceria nanoparticles was finally confirmed. Increased dehydrogenation activity of graphene with ceria nanoparticles leading to CO and H2 formation was demonstrated.
ABSTRACT
Monolayer and isotopically labelled bilayer graphene membranes were prepared on grids for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In order to create defects in the graphene layers in a controlled way, we studied the sensitivity of the individual graphene layers to the oxygen plasma treatment. We tested samples with different configurations by varying the order of the transfer of layers and changing the orientation of the samples with respect to the plasma chamber. Using Raman spectroscopy, HRTEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we demonstrated defect formation and determined the quantity and chemical composition of the defects. By keeping the sample structure and the setup of the experiment unchanged, the significant role of the sample orientation with respect to the chamber was demonstrated. The effect was accounted for by the variation of the accessibility of the sample surface for the reactive species. Therefore, this effect can be used to control the degree of damage in each layer, resulting in differing numbers of defects present on each side of the sample.
