Pramodika, W. D.R.Balasooriya, N.W.B.Kumara, G.A.R.2025-11-192025-11-192022-10-28Proceedings of the Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress (RESCON) -2022, University of Peradeniya, P 43978-955-8787-09-0https://ir.lib.pdn.ac.lk/handle/20.500.14444/6807Sri Lankan natural vein graphite has a higher potential for industrial-scale uses due to its outstanding purity and high crystallinity. Over the last two decades, graphene oxide (GO) has attracted a lot of interest in the scientific and industrial world. However, more attention is needed to introduce and develop new rapid methods of graphene oxide synthesis. The modified Tour method was used to synthesize graphene oxide from Sri Lankan natural vein graphite. Natural vein graphite powder (<90 μm), which contains the highest carbon percentage (99%), was added to the mixture of H₂SO₄ and H₃BO₃ (acid ratio of 1:10). Then, KMnO4 was slowly added to the beaker. The reaction mixture was maintained at 40 ⁰C. Then the mixture was poured into the ice bath, and deionized water was added. The solution was heated to 70 ⁰C and kept at this temperature for 30 min with stirring. The process was completed by reacting with H₂O₂ (50%). Structural evaluation of the synthesized GO was carried out using Raman analysis and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images were used for morphological analysis, and the chemical composition of the synthesized GO was determined using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The oxidation of graphite is confirmed by developing the strong D, G, and 2D bands in Raman spectroscopy. Using the XRD data, the calculated values of d-spacing, crystalline size (D) and number of layers (nᵢ ) for synthesized GO powder were 9.71 Å, 1.41 nm and 2.45, respectively. This modified, rapid Tour method can be introduced as a simple, environmentally-friendly and time-efficient method to prepare graphene oxide with a minimum number of layers.en-USGraphene OxideModified Tour’s methodProtective agentSri Lanka Vein GraphiteArticle