Hollow Graphene-Based Microspheres Adsorbents for Removal of Gaseous Formaldehyde

Abstract

Two type of hollow graphene microspheres were investigated for the adsorption performance of gaseous formaldehyde. Hollow gently reduced graphene oxide microspheres (HgRGOS) were synthesized by using the polystyrene microspheres as sacrificial template and gently reducing graphene oxide with NH₂NH₂. Hollow amine modified graphene microspheres (DETA-HgRGOS) were synthesized by DETA-treatment following the before-mentioned steps. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. This was followed by formaldehyde adsorption tests. The results showed that HgRGOS and DETA-HgRGOS were characterized to have adsorption capacities of 24.54 and 17.18 mg/g. The amine-modified material can interacts with HCHO more easily than the material eith carboxyl and epoxy groups on the surface. The reaction mechanism was discussed according to FTIR and XPS analysis.