Influence of the Morphology on the Functionalization of Graphene Nanoplatelets Analyzed by Comparative Photoelectron Spectroscopy with Soft and Hard X‐Rays

Since its isolation, graphene has received growing attention from academia and industry due to unique properties. However, the “what is my material” barrier hinders further commercialization. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) considered as a method of choice for determination elemental chemical composition. In this work influence morphology particles on XPS results studied investigated function energy, using conventional with Al Kα radiation hard photoemission (HAXPES) Cr radiation. Thereby, information depth varied between 10 30 nm. For purpose, two commercial powders containing nanoplatelets lateral dimensions either ≈100 nm or in micrometer range are compared. These larger ones exist stack layers which inspected scanning electron microscopy. Both kinds then functionalized oxygen fluorine. The size found degree functionalization. Only combination HAXPES allows detect functionalization at outermost surface even stacks provide new insights into process.