title: Chemical Mass Production of Graphene Nanoplatelets in ∼100% Yield.
abstract: Successful application of graphene is hampered by the lack of cost-effective methods for its production. Here, we demonstrate a method of mass production of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) by exfoliation of flake graphite in the tricomponent system made by a combination of ammonium persulfate ((NH4)2S2O8), concentrated sulfuric acid, and fuming sulfuric acid. The resulting GNPs are tens of microns in diameter and 10-35 nm in thickness. When in the liquid phase of the tricomponent media, graphite completely loses its interlayer registry. This provides a ∼100% yield of GNPs from graphite in 3-4 h at room temperature or in 10 min at 120 °C.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry, ‡Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and §Computer Science, and ∥The Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University , MS-222, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Ayrat M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dimiev
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry, ‡Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and §Computer Science, and ∥The Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University , MS-222, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceriotti
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry, ‡Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and §Computer Science, and ∥The Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University , MS-222, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry, ‡Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and §Computer Science, and ∥The Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University , MS-222, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Nam Dong
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry, ‡Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and §Computer Science, and ∥The Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University , MS-222, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tour
keywords: graphene nanoplatelets; graphite exfoliation