Valence band of graphite oxide

We have investigated the electronic structure of graphite oxide by photoelectron spectroscopy at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Korea. The typical sp2 hybridization states found in graphite were also seen in graphite oxide. However, the ${\pi}$ state disappeared near the Fermi level because of bonding between the ${\pi}$ and oxygen-related states originating from graphite oxide, indicating electron transfer from graphite to oxygen and resulting in a downward shift of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) state to higher binding energies. The band gap opening increased to about 1.8 eV, and additional oxygen-related peaks were observed at 8.5 and 27 eV.