Graphene to Graphane: Novel Electrochemical Conversion

A novel electrochemical means to generate atomic hydrogen, simplifying the synthesis and controllability of graphane formation on graphene is presented. High quality, vacuum grown epitaxial graphene (EG) was used as starting material for graphane conversion. A home-built electrochemical cell with Pt wire and exposed graphene as the anode and cathode, respectively, was used to attract H+ ions to react with the exposed graphene. Cyclic voltammetry of the cell revealed the potential of the conversion reaction as well as oxidation and reduction peaks, suggesting the possibility of electrochemically reversible hydrogenation. A sharp increase in D peak in the Raman spectra of EG, increase of D/G ratio, introduction of a peak at ~2930 cm-1 and respective peak shifts as well as a sharp increase in resistance showed the successful hydrogenation of EG. This conversion was distinguished from lattice damage by thermal reversal back to graphene at 1000°C.