I have successfully synthesized both graphene and graphene oxide in solution. However, I am uncertain about the appropriate method for drying them. I am aware that freeze-drying is the most effective technique, but unfortunately, I lack access to the necessary equipment. I attempted vacuum drying at room temperature, but my pump unexpectedly malfunctioned. Now, I am considering air drying as an alternative, but I am worried it might negatively impact the quality of the materials.
Could air drying potentially lead to the undesirable re-stacking of graphene and graphene oxide layers, resulting in the formation of graphite and graphite oxide?
Getting the flakes out of a dispersion (I doubt it's a solution if it's not nanographene) in a controlled manner is one of the major difficulties in graphene processing, so if you move away from anything which has already been optimized, you will most likely lose quality.
Air drying is not as effective as freeze-drying or vacuum drying, but it can be a good option if you do not have access to the necessary equipment. With careful drying, you can still obtain high-quality graphene.
