Comparative analysis of structural, physicochemical, and electrochemical properties of graphene oxide derived from commercial graphite and rice husk biomass for sensing applications

Publication Type

Journal Article

Name of Author

• Brice Alain Kabore, Department of Physics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaFollow
• Walter K. Njoroge, Department of Physics, Kenyatta University,Nairobi, Kenya
• Eric Masika, Department of Chemistry, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
• Matthias M. Minjauw, Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
• Jolien Dendooven, Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
• Christophe Detavernier, Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
• Mieke Adriaens, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Publication Date (Issue Year)

2026

Journal Name

Results in Materials

Abstract

This study presents a sustainable route to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) from rice husk biochar (RHB) without hazardous HF/NaOH pretreatment, using a modified Hummers’ method. We showed that natural silicate minerals in RHB significantly alter the structure and properties of rice husk-derived GO (RHGO), reducing its electrochemical sensing performance compared to commercial graphite-derived GO (CGGO). Importantly, we demonstrated that a simple, eco-friendly process, decantation followed by electrodeposition, can reduce the adverse effects of silica in RHGO, boosting its sensing performance without needing traditional desilication methods. XPS analysis revealed that RHGO exhibited a higher silicon content of 28 % and oxygen content of 59 %, along with a lower carbon content of 12 %. In contrast, CGGO contained no silicon, 35 % oxygen, and 61 % carbon. These compositional differences indicate that CGGO had a typical GO structure, while RHGO reflected a hybrid SiO2-GO structure. RHGO also showed a larger BET surface area of 83 m2 /g and a total pore volume of 0.12 cm3 /g, whereas CGGO displayed a surface area of 31 m2 /g and a pore volume of 0.02 cm3 /g. Electrochemical tests revealed that silicates in RHGO reduced surface functionality and electron transfer between the RHGO carbon paste electrode (CPE) and ferro/ferricyanide ions in KCl solution. However, decantation and electrodeposition of RHGO onto CPE enhanced the peak current by 1.5 times, reduced the peak-to-peak separation by 1.75-fold, and reduced the charge-transfer resistance by 2.6-fold compared with bare CPE, thereby improving electron-transfer kinetics and sensing response. However, CGGO still outperformed RHGO, showing residual silicate effects persist.

Keywords

Graphene oxide, Rice husk biomass, Commercial graphite, Electrochemical properties, Comparative analysis

Rsif Scholar Name

Brice Alain Kabore 

Rsif Scholar Nationality

Burkina Faso

Cohort

Cohort 4

Thematic Area

Minerals, Mining and Materials Engineering

Africa Host University (AHU)

Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya

Recommended Citation

This work, conducted at Ghent University, was funded by the Partnership for Applied Skills in Sciences, Engineering and Technology-Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (PASET-Rsif) and Carnegie Corporation of New York with Grant Number B8501G30206. The authors wish to thank the FWO for the medium-sized research infrastructure project L-SCAN I003222N. We acknowledge Bram De Smet and Prof. Pascal Van Der Voort for their help with the BET measurements, Bernhard De Meyer for his assistance with FTIR and TGA measurements, and Olivier Janssen for performing XRD and SEM measurements.