Solution properties of graphite and graphene

Covalent derivatization of the acidic functional groups in oxidized graphite with octadecylamine renders graphite soluble in common organic solvents. Atomic force microscopic characterization of the soluble species supports the idea that the solutions consist of single and few layer graphene sheets, and we report the first solution properties of graphite.     

Aqueous Dispersions of Graphene from Electrochemically Exfoliated Graphite

A facile and environmentally friendly synthetic strategy for the production of stable and easily processable dispersions of graphene in water is presented. This strategy represents an alternative to classical chemical exfoliation methods (for example the Hummers method) that are more complex, harmful, and dangerous. The process is based on the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite and includes three simple steps: 1) the anodic exfoliation of graphite in (NH₄)₂SO₄, 2) sonication to separate the oxidized graphene sheets, and 3) reduction of oxidized graphene to graphene. The procedure makes it possible to convert around 30 wt % of the initial graphite into graphene with short processing times and high yields. The graphene sheets are well dispersed in water, have a carbon/oxygen atomic ratio of 11.7, a lateral size of about 0.5–1 μm, and contain only a few graphene layers, most of which are bilayer sheets. The processability of this type of aqueous dispersion has been demonstrated in the fabrication of macroscopic graphene structures, such as graphene aerogels and graphene films, which have been successfully employed as absorbents or as electrodes in supercapacitors, respectively.     

Graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay and its decomposition to graphene-inorganic material nanocomposites

A graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay (nickel zinc hydroxysalt) has been prepared using the aqueous colloidal dispersions of negatively charged graphite oxide sheets and aminobenzoate-intercalated anionic clay layers as precursors. When the two colloidal dispersions are reacted, the interlayer aminobenzoate ions are displaced from the anionic clay and the negatively charged graphite oxide sheets are intercalated between the positively charged layers of the anionic clay. The thermal decomposition of the intercalated solid at different temperatures yields graphene-metal oxide/metal nanocomposites. Electron microscopic analysis of the composites indicates that the nanoparticles are intercalated between the layers of graphite in many regions of these solids although the graphite layers are largely exfoliated and not stacked well together.     

Microwave- and nitronium ion-enabled rapid and direct production of highly conductive low-oxygen graphene

Currently the preferred method for large-scale production of solution-processable graphene is via a nonconductive graphene oxide (GO) pathway, which uncontrollably cuts sheets into small pieces and/or introduces nanometer-sized holes in the basal plane. These structural changes significantly decrease some of graphene's remarkable electrical and mechanical properties. Here, we report an unprecedented fast and scalable approach to avoid these problems and directly produce large, highly conductive graphene sheets. This approach intentionally excludes KMnO(4) from Hummers' methods and exploits aromatic oxidation by nitronium ions combined with the unique properties of microwave heating. This combination promotes rapid and simultaneous oxidation of multiple non-neighboring carbon atoms across an entire graphene sheet, thereby producing only a minimum concentration of oxygen moieties sufficient to enable the separation of graphene sheets. Thus, separated graphene sheets, which are referred to as microwave-enabled low-oxygen graphene, are thermally stable and highly conductive without requiring further reduction. Even in the absence of polymeric or surfactant stabilizers, concentrated dispersions of graphene with clean and well-separated graphene sheets can be obtained in both aqueous and organic solvents. This rapid and scalable approach produces high-quality graphene sheets of low oxygen content, enabling a broad spectrum of applications via low-cost solution processing.     

Binol salt as a completely removable graphene surfactant

For the first time, stable aqueous dispersions of graphene sheets can be prepared via exfoliation/in situ reduction of graphene oxide in the presence of binol salt, a stabilizing surfactant that can be completely removed without affecting the properties of graphene sheets.     

An efficient way to functionalize graphene sheets with presynthesized polymer via ATNRC chemistry

Graphene nanosheets offer intriguing electronic, thermal and mechanical properties and are expected to find a variety of applications in high‐performance nanocomposite materials. The great challenge of exfoliating and dispersing pristine graphite or graphene sheets in various solvents or matrices can be achieved by facilely and properly chemical functionalization of the carbon nanosheets. Here we reported an efficient way to functionalize graphene sheets with presynthesized polymer via a combination of atom transfer nitroxide radical coupling chemistry with the grafting‐onto strategy, which enable us to functionalize graphene sheets with well‐defined polymer synthesized via living radical polymerization. A radical scavenger species, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO), was firstly anchored onto ? COOH groups on graphene oxide (GO) to afford TEMPO‐functionalized graphene sheets (GS‐TEMPO), meanwhile, the GO sheets were thermally reduced. Next, GS‐TEMPO reacted with Br‐terminated well‐defined poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) homopolymer, which was presynthesized by SET‐LRP, in the presence of CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine to form PNIPAM‐graphene sheets (GS‐PNIPAM) nanocomposite in which the polymers were covalently linked onto the graphene via the alkoxyamine conjunction points. The PNIPAM‐modified graphene sheets are easily dispersible in organic solvents and water, and a temperature‐induced phase transition was founded in the water suspension of GS‐PNIPAM. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Functionalized single graphene sheets derived from splitting graphite oxide

A process is described to produce single sheets of functionalized graphene through thermal exfoliation of graphite oxide. The process yields a wrinkled sheet structure resulting from reaction sites involved in oxidation and reduction processes. The topological features of single sheets, as measured by atomic force microscopy, closely match predictions of first-principles atomistic modeling. Although graphite oxide is an insulator, functionalized graphene produced by this method is electrically conducting.     

Few-layer graphenes from ball-milling of graphite with melamine

We report a simple, practical scalable procedure to produce few-layer graphene sheets using ball-milling. Commercially available melamine can be efficiently used to exfoliate graphite and generate concentrated water or DMF dispersions.     

High-yield synthesis of few-layer graphene flakes through electrochemical expansion of graphite in propylene carbonate electrolyte

High-yield production of few-layer graphene flakes from graphite is important for the scalable synthesis and industrial application of graphene. However, high-yield exfoliation of graphite to form graphene sheets without using any oxidation process or super-strong acid is challenging. Here we demonstrate a solution route inspired by the lithium rechargeable battery for the high-yield (>70%) exfoliation of graphite into highly conductive few-layer graphene flakes (average thickness <5 layers). A negative graphite electrode can be electrochemically charged and expanded in an electrolyte of Li salts and organic solvents under high current density and exfoliated efficiently into few-layer graphene sheets with the aid of sonication. The dispersible graphene can be ink-brushed to form highly conformal coatings of conductive films (15 ohm/square at a graphene loading of <1 mg/cm(2)) on commercial paper.     

不同氧化程度氧化石墨烯的制备及湿敏性能研究

基于氧化石墨烯具有多种含氧官能团和极大的比表面积,研究了不同氧化程度氧化石墨烯的湿敏性能。采用改进的Hummers法制备不同氧化程度的氧化石墨,经过超声分散制备氧化石墨烯水相分散液后,制成氧化石墨烯薄膜湿敏元件。采用X射线衍射、原子力显微镜、红外光谱、拉曼光谱和X射线光电子能谱对实验样品的结构和谱学特性进行表征。结果表明:石墨经氧化后,底面间距增大为0.9 nm左右;随氧化剂用量的增加,氧化石墨中石墨的衍射峰逐渐消失,石墨相微晶尺寸逐渐减小,O/C原子比逐渐增大,氧化程度逐渐升高;氧化石墨烯在水相分散液中可达单层分散,单层氧化石墨烯厚度约为1.3 nm;氧化石墨烯表面接有-OH、C-O-C、C=O和COOH官能团,且官能团含量随氧化程度的升高而增大;氧化石墨烯薄膜元件在室温下对湿度的响应时间约3 s,灵敏度达99%;在11.3%-93.6%相对湿度范围内,元件的电阻随湿度升高显著减小,较高氧化程度的氧化石墨烯薄膜的电阻对数与相对湿度呈线性变化;氧化程度越高,元件灵敏度越高,响应时间越短。     

Freestanding sulfonated graphene oxide paper: a new polymer electrolyte for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Sulfonated graphene oxide paper was fabricated by vacuum filtration of a colloidal solution of sulfonated graphite oxide. Layer by layer assembly of graphene oxide nano sheets interconnects the conduction paths and therefore sulfonated graphene oxide exhibits good proton conductivity and fuel cell performance.     

Effect of the conditions of transfer on the structure and optical properties of Langmuir graphene oxide films during deposition on a substrate

The effect the solvent and transfer pressure of graphene oxide (SLGO) Langmuir–Blodgett films on the physicochemical properties of monolayers, and on their structural and optical properties, is studied. Examination of the physicochemical properties of SLGO monolayers on subphase surfaces that are formed from SLGO dispersions in different organic solvents reveals that monolayer behavior is virtually independent of the solvent. Electron microscope and optical studies show that the monolayers formed from SLGO dispersions in DMF and acetone have the highest transfer coefficients. It is concluded that the structural heterogeneity of the surfaces of graphene oxide films results from simultaneous effect of electrostatic interactions between graphene oxide particles and Van der Waals interactions with the solvation shell of the particles. Studies focusing on the effect the pressure of transferring a graphene oxide monolayer onto the surface of a solid substrate has on structural features of LB films show that films produced at low surface pressures have more homogeneous structures.     

Direct exfoliation of graphene in organic solvents with addition of NaOH

We report a facile method for the production of graphene sheets through the liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite in organic solvents with addition of NaOH. NaOH was found to be intercalated into the interplanar spaces of graphite, and greatly improves exfoliation efficiency up to 20 times.     

影响高浓度氧化石墨烯分散液流变行为的重要因素及群体平衡动力学分析

氧化石墨烯(GO)片的基面和边缘上存在大量的含氧官能团,能很好地分散在水中,因而具有很好的加工性和广阔的应用前景。在较高浓度范围下,GO水分散液中存在着强烈的竞争性相互作用,从而对流变行为产生较大影响。在本文中,通过稳态、动态等流变实验以及理论分析,研究了pH值、温度和不同的有机溶剂对GO分散液流变行为的影响。结果表明,降低pH值、适当增加温度以及加入吡啶均可促进GO水分散液从粘弹性液体到凝胶态的转变。利用DLVO (Deryagin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek)理论,探讨了GO片之间的范德华作用力以及双电层排斥作用的相互关系,及其对流变性能的影响。通过群体平衡模型(PBE)分析了GO分散液的屈服应力与体积分数的正相关关系。同时,通过蠕变和松弛实验发现,高浓度的GO分散液中结构变化及流变行为在很多方面与高聚物相似,利用Poyting-Thomson模型能较好地拟合其粘弹性行为。上述研究结果为深入研究复杂的GO分散体系提供理论支撑和实验依据。     

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-Assisted Exfoliation of Graphite and Its Use in Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Composites

One of the applications of graphene in which its scalable production is of utmost importance is the development of polymer composites. Among the techniques used to produce graphene flakes, the liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) of graphite stands out due to its versatility and scalability. However, solvents suitable for the LPE process are generally toxic and have a high boiling point, making the processing challenging. The use of low boiling point solvents could be convenient for the processing, due to the easiness of their removal. In this study, the use of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a stabilizing agent is proposed for the production of graphene flakes in a low boiling point solvent, that is, acetone. The graphene dispersions produced in the mixture acetone-PMMA have higher concentration, +175 %, and contain a higher percentage of few-layer graphene flakes (<5 layers), that is, +60 %, compared to the dispersions prepared in acetone. The as-produced graphene dispersions are used to develop graphene/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene composites. The mechanical properties of the pristine polymer are improved, that is, +22 % in the Young's modulus, by adding 0.01 wt. % of graphene flakes. Moreover, a decrease of ≈20 % in the oxygen permeability is obtained by using 0.1 wt. % of graphene flakes filler, compared to the unloaded matrix.     

Electrocatalytic Activities of Chemically Reduced Graphene Are Essentially Dominated by the Adhered Carbonaceous Debris

Due to its simple, scalable, and facile qualities, the chemical reduction of graphene oxide seems to be the most popular approach to prepare graphene. We show that such prepared graphene is strongly adhered with carbonaceous debris that has been produced during the synthesis of graphene oxide by the chemical exfoliation of graphite and still remain on graphene sheets through the chemical reduction steps. Interestingly, the presence of the carbonaceous debris causes a significant impact on the electrochemical behavior of the chemical reduced graphene. Herein, we demonstrate that the electrocatalytical activities of the graphene are greatly boosted by the adhered carbonaceous debris. After the removal of the carbonaceous debris, the electrocatalysis of graphene is not superior to conventional graphite.     

Water-soluble graphene dispersion functionalized by Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction

Water-soluble graphene dispersions were fabricated by the exfoliation of graphite functionalized with furfuryl alcohol by Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction. The pristine graphite was firstly heat-treated in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) before it was functionalized with furfuryl alcohol, and then, the increased interlayer spacing is propitious for furfuryl alcohol to enter into the lattice and react with graphite. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the functional graphene is a high-quality product without any significant defects, and atomic force microscopy shows that the functional graphene consists of single to few layers graphene. Moreover, the grafting ratio onto graphene is up to 1.52 mmol/g. Therefore, the method provides a feasible route to produce functional graphene.     

膨胀石墨层间生长高活性氧化锌及其光催化性能

以醋酸锌和膨胀石墨为原料, 采用真空辅助压力诱导手段使反应溶液注入膨胀石墨层间, 在180℃下溶剂热反应12 h, 一步得到氧化锌纳米棒/石墨烯复合光催化剂, 采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)等对复合光催化剂的结构和形貌进行了表征. 结果表明, 合成的氧化锌纳米棒具有六方晶系纤锌矿结构; 氧化锌纳米棒在石墨烯表面分散性较好, 其平均直径约50 nm, 长度约150~200 nm. 所得氧化锌纳米棒/石墨烯复合材料对亚甲基蓝的降解效率优于目前应用最广泛的光催化剂Degussa P25.     

Electrochemical oxygen reduction on nitrogen doped graphene sheets in acid media

Nitrogen doped graphene were prepared via exfoliated graphite oxide. This graphene exhibited significantly high oxygen reduction activity. High electric conductivity, high surface area, large amount of edge sites and pyridinic N site in rGS (reduced graphene sheets) contribute to the high ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) activity. The rGS showed a potential to replace expensive Pt for oxygen reduction reaction in PEMFC.     

Diazonium functionalization of surfactant-wrapped chemically converted graphene sheets

Surfactant-wrapped chemically converted graphene sheets obtained from reduction of graphene oxide with hydrazine were functionalized by treatment with aryl diazonium salts. The nanosheets are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The resulting functionalized nanosheets disperse readily in polar aprotic solvents, allowing alternative avenues for simple incorporation into different polymer matrices.