[3dem] Graphene Oxide grids hydrophobic

[Ozcan, Kadir Ali]

Hello Dario,

It is natural for GO grids to be hydrophobic despite GO's hydrophilic functional group content. As you and others have suggested, a short glow discharge can render grids hydrophilic however may potentially damage the GO layer. A safer way to render grids hydrophilic is exposing them to ozone. Our lab uses a cheap ozone generator we purchased on Amazon, the product name is "Aqua-6, 120 mg/hour Water Ozone Generator" from the A2Z Ozone Store (no affiliation). Place your grids in a petri dish or other small container with the ozone output source close to the grids for 15-60 minutes. You can empirically determine the optimal time for your grids and assess hydrophilicity by adding water/buffer. In my experience 30 minutes is typically long enough. Additionally, adding a UV light source directed towards the grids in tandem with ozone may improve hydrophilicity. Let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

Kadir Ozcan
PhD Candidate at Purdue University
Wen Jiang Lab

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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2023 17:48:21 +0100
From: Dario <dariobrack at googlemail.com>
To: 3dem at ncmir.ucsd.edu
Subject: [3dem] Graphene Oxide grids hydrophobic
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Dear all,

I have ordered commercial GO grids (QF 300 Cu R2/2 GO) and expected them to be hydrophilic out of the box due to the GO layer.
However, the grid was not covered by the 3ul sample drop and appeared quite hydrophobic. How do you prepare the GO grids for plunging?

I plasma cleaned them with air for 8sec, after that they were very hydrophilic, but I am afraid I might have destroyed the GO layer.

Best

Dario




_______________________________

Dr. Dario Saczko-Brack
Postdoc

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t M?nchen
Department of Cellular Physiology
Biomedical Center Munich - BMC
Gro?haderner Str. 9
D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried

Prof. Dr. Claudia Veigel

Room: N.C 01.033
Phone: +49 (0) 89 2180 71588
Fax: +49 (0) 89 2180 71732
Email: Dario.Saczko-Brack at med.lmu.de
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