Production of graphene oxide from graphite

A graphene oxide product produced from a graphite source using a process comprising steps of:

• treating the graphite source with sulphuric acid at a temperature in a range of −10° C. to 10° C. to obtain a graphite oxide in a first reaction mixture;
• converting the graphite oxide of the first reaction mixture to an initial graphene oxide in a second reaction mixture by adding potassium permanganate at room temperature to the first reaction mixture followed by mechanical agitation for a period of time in a range of 1.5 to 2.5 hours;
• providing an oxidising mixture to the second reaction mixture to form a suspension, wherein the oxidising mixture comprises hydrogen peroxide;
• washing the suspension with water and dilute hydrochloric acid to obtain a wash liquor and a dispersion;
• and
• freeze drying the dispersion under vacuum to obtain the graphene oxide product, wherein the graphene oxide product has an impurity content of less than 0.1%.