FTIR and 13C NMR study of graphite oxide

From FTIR and 13C NMR studies, we determined that graphite oxide contains ether bridges, hydroxyl groups, and sp2 coordinated carbons. 13C NMR studies of the compound at various degrees of oxidation enable us to propose a structure for the local arrangement of these structural components. This local structure would lead to an ideal graphite oxide with the composition C8O2(OH)2. We suggest that the limit composition C8O1.7(OH)1.7 observed in graphite oxide prepared from natural Madagascar graphite is due to structural defects of the pristine graphite.