Comment on “Colloidal stability of reduced graphene oxide materials prepared using different reducing agents” by Y. Qi, T. Xia, Y. Li, L. Duan and W. Chen, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2016, 3, 1062

Abstract

The colloidal stability of graphene oxide (GO) and its reduced forms can be described using classical DLVO theory. This contradicts the claims by Qi et al. (Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2016, 3, 1062–1071). Lower colloidal stability of reduced GO is caused by changes in surface charging and optical properties of GO upon reduction which leads to the suppression of double layer forces but enhancement of van der Waals forces, respectively.