  Perovskites and related structures are renowned for technologically useful
applications. The structural variations in perovskite crystals result in novel
properties which can be regulated by external forces. The study attempts to
regulate distortion of a perovskite compound LaFeO3 driven solely by reduced
graphene oxide (RGO) and to demonstrate the effect using a critical parameter -
electrochemical conductivity. A series of graphene concentration varied
nanocomposites were synthesized via hydrothermal method. The crystal distortion
is investigated using X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. By analysis of
the oxygen and Fe ion peaks of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, along with
Raman spectra, a clear understanding of the distortion process is developed.
The remarkable effect of distortion on dispersed phases generated by graphene
matrix is coined with a new phrase Graphenostortion. The study revealed that
the environment for the graphenostrotion originated from the interaction of
oxygen functional groups of RGO with LaFeO3. The variation in bond covalency
influenced by the percentage concentration of non-lattice oxygen, distorted the
Pbnm geometry of the graphene nanocomposite. The developed mechanism for
distortion is in good agreement with electrochemical activity studies. RGO as a
tool to control distortion in metal oxide could facilitate new facets in
technological applications of graphene nanocomposites.
