Solid-State NMR Studies of the Structure of Graphite Oxide

Graphite oxide (GO) and its derivatives have been studied using 13C and 1H NMR. The 13C NMR lines at 60, 70, and 130 ppm are assigned to C−OH, C−O−C, and >CC< groups in the bulk of the material, respectively. The >CC< double bonds are relatively stable, while C−OH groups may condense to form C−O−C (ether) linkages. There are at least two magnetically inequivalent C−OH sites, and the structure does not necessarily possess long-range order. Water molecules interact very strongly with the structure. The results reveal a number of new structural features.