Electron-stimulated reduction of the surface of graphite oxide

Auger-electron spectroscopy has been used to study in situ the initial stage of graphite oxide (GO) reduction under the action of a low-intensity electron beam that does not lead to heating of the irradiated region. It was found that this stage evolves at a rate that is tens of times the rate of the subsequent reduction. It was shown that the fast stage is associated with the removal of oxygen groups from the GO surface. The effective cross sections of the initial and subsequent stages of GO reduction by 1500 eV electrons were found to be $\sigma_{in}\sim$ 0.5 $\cdot$ 10$^{-16}$ cm$^{2}$ and $\sigma_{av}\sim$ 1.2 $\cdot$10$^{-18}$ cm$^{2}$, respectively.