The superior properties of graphene in applications ranging from electronic devices to composites have been extensively reported. So far, no mass production of defect-free few-layer graphene has been attained. The authors of this study have demonstrated a high-yield method to produce defect-free few-layer graphene by exfoliation of graphite in a degradable water-soluble polymer (I) with cholamine modification, and the obtained intercalated (D-I) chemical structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electron donor forms π–π stacking interactions with the graphene sheets during sonication, which prevents the exfoliated graphene from restacking. The method is environment-friendly compared with other liquid exfoliation methods, and the aqueous and ethanolic solutions of graphene are stable for long durations. The authors also confirmed the presence of gossamer graphene sheets, which have typical wrinkled and folded structures, by using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Atomic force microscopy images revealed that graphene sheets with a thickness of approximately 1 nm were uniformly distributed.
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15 February 2016
Research Article|
February 18 2016
Eco-friendly exfoliation of graphite into pristine graphene with little defect by a facile physical treatment
Jianping Chen;
Jianping Chen
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Weili Shi;
Weili Shi
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Yongmei Chen;
Yongmei Chen
2
Wuhan Vocational College of Software and Engineering
, Wuhan 430200, China
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Quanling Yang;
Quanling Yang
a)
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Mengkui Wang;
Mengkui Wang
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Bin Liu;
Bin Liu
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Zhen Tang;
Zhen Tang
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Ming Jiang;
Ming Jiang
3School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan Textile University
, Wuhan 430200, China
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De Fang;
De Fang
4Center for Materials Research and Analysis,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
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Chuanxi Xiong
Chuanxi Xiong
a)
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan University of Technology
, Wuhan 430070, China
3School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Wuhan Textile University
, Wuhan 430200, China
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a)
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic addresses: yangql@whut.edu.cn; cxiong@whut.edu.cn
Appl. Phys. Lett. 108, 073105 (2016)
Article history
Received:
December 30 2015
Accepted:
February 05 2016
Citation
Jianping Chen, Weili Shi, Yongmei Chen, Quanling Yang, Mengkui Wang, Bin Liu, Zhen Tang, Ming Jiang, De Fang, Chuanxi Xiong; Eco-friendly exfoliation of graphite into pristine graphene with little defect by a facile physical treatment. Appl. Phys. Lett. 15 February 2016; 108 (7): 073105. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4942192
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