Interaction of Diatom Silica with Graphene

• Main Authors: Dalagan, Juliet Q, Enriquez, Erwin P
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2013
• Subjects: biogenic silica; composite; diatom; diatomites; graphene; Chemistry
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/chemistry-faculty-pubs/66; https://philsciletters.net/2013/2013n1.13.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

In this present work, the synthesis and characterization of graphene-diatom silica were studied. Diatom silicagraphene composite was prepared via the adsorption of graphene suspension into diatom silica extracted from 3 different species, namely Amphora sp., Navicula ramossisira and Skeletonema sp. The adsorption proceeded to yield a black solid material that is composed of silica and graphene. The concentrations of graphene in the 3 diatom species based on thermogravimetric and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods were 0.306 mg/mL, 0.449 mg/mL and 0.188 mg/mL for Amphora sp., Navicula ramossisira and Skeletonema sp., respectively. Raman spectroscopy of the graphene-diatom silica revealed band shifts in the D, G and 2D peaks which are indicative of an interaction between graphene and diatom silica. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) images also illustrate presence of graphene on diatom silica.