Chromolaena odorata Extract as an Eco-Friendly Reducing Agent for Graphene Oxide

Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed) was researched for its application as a novel reducing agent. Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared via a modified Hummers method, and its reduction was achieved using an aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata leaves. The use of conventional reducing agents typically results in hydrophobic reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which leads to agglomeration in solvents. However, the green reduction method using Chromolaena odorata extract achieved a homogeneous dispersion, which is crucial for applications requiring simple preparation techniques such as magnetic stirring, ultrasonic sonication, and vacuum mixing. Characterization of the rGO revealed a broad peak around 24.12º in the x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, an increased ID / IG ratio of 1.09 from Raman spectroscopy, and a high C:O ratio of 5.07 from energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Additionally, BET analysis demonstrated an increase in surface area and pore volume, while FESEM analyses showed a uniform morphology with clear structural defects and minimal oxygen content. FTIR spectra further confirmed the reduction process, indicated significant decrease in oxygen-related peaks. These findings highlight the potential of Chromolaena odorata as a sustainable reducing agent for the environmentally friendly synthesis of high-quality rGO.