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Tunable solution-processable anodic exfoliated graphene

journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-16, 05:39 authored by Chong Yong LeeChong Yong Lee, David Mitchell, Paul Molino, Adam Fahy, Gordon WallaceGordon Wallace
Electrochemical exfoliation of graphite is an emerging approach to provide large scale, low cost, efficient and reliable production of high quality, low defect and solution-processable graphene. The use of a sulphuric acid electrolyte allows rapid and efficient anodic graphite exfoliation. However, the highly oxidative process in this electrolyte promotes hydroxyl radicals. These degrade the carbon lattice structurally, hence compromising the quality of graphene produced. Here, we report a simple and effective way to overcome this challenge; the use of an additive to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. The addition of a small volume percentage of ethylene glycol acts to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, it is readily adsorbed onto the intercalated graphite surface, and therefore also serves as an oxidative prevention layer. As a result, the damage on the graphitic structure is greatly minimized, resulting in a low defect and high quality few layers graphene, with high yield (>80%) and a low degree of oxidation with a C/O ratio of 16.9. The graphene solution-processability is readily tuned and improved with stable dispersions up to 5 mg/mL in dimethylformamide. This new strategy of a simple and low cost dual purpose additive in scavenging hydroxyl radicals and providing an oxidative prevention layer to efficiently tune the graphene quality and solution-processability; holds promise in industrial scale mass production of high quality graphene.

Funding

An aberration corrected analytical Transmission Electron Microscope for nanoscale characterisation of materials

Australian Research Council

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History

Citation

Lee, C.-Y., Mitchell, D. R. G., Molino, P., Fahy, A. & Wallace, G. G. (2019). Tunable solution-processable anodic exfoliated graphene. Applied Materials Today, 15 290-296.

Journal title

Applied Materials Today

Volume

15

Pagination

290-296

Language

English

RIS ID

133702

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