SELECTIVE LIQUID SORPTION PROPERTIES OF HYDROPHOBIZED GRAPHITE OXIDE NANOSTRUCTURES

Hydrophilic graphite oxide (GO) of lamellar structure was prepared by oxidation of graphite; the thickness of the individual lamellae was 6. 1 Angstrom. GO was hydrophobized by n-alkylammonium cations, and the G O-organocomplex nanocomposites were swollen in organic solvents of var ious polarities (ethanol, toluene, cyclohexane, n-heptane) and their b inary mixtures. The binary liquid composition determined the size (15- 45 Angstrom) of the lamellar GO nanostructures. Interlamellar swelling was quantitatively characterized by XRD experiments, determination of liquid sorption excess isotherms and flow microcalorimetry.