Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol)
We demonstrate an accessible and effective technique for exfoliating graphite foil and graphite powder into graphene in a water solution of inorganic salt. In our research, we report an electrochemical cathodic exfoliation in an aqueous solution of Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>...
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/7/971 |
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| author | Anna Ilnicka Malgorzata Skorupska Piotr Kamedulski Jerzy P. Lukaszewicz |
| author_facet | Anna Ilnicka Malgorzata Skorupska Piotr Kamedulski Jerzy P. Lukaszewicz |
| author_sort | Anna Ilnicka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We demonstrate an accessible and effective technique for exfoliating graphite foil and graphite powder into graphene in a water solution of inorganic salt. In our research, we report an electrochemical cathodic exfoliation in an aqueous solution of Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>. After electro-exfoliation, the resulting graphene was premixed with furfuryl alcohol (FA) and an inorganic template (CaCO<sub>3</sub> and Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>). Once FA was polymerized to poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA), the mixture was carbonized. Carbon bridges originating in thermally-decomposed PFA joined exfoliated graphene flakes and stabilized the whole sponge-type structure after the nano-template was removed. Gases evolved at the graphite electrode (cathode) played an important role in the process of graphene-flake splitting and accelerated the change of graphite into graphene flakes. Starting graphite materials and graphene sponges were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, SEM, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), elemental analysis, and low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen to determine their structure, morphology, and chemical composition. The discovered manufacturing protocol had a positive influence on the specific surface area and porosity of the sponges. The SEM and HRTEM studies confirmed a high separation degree of graphite and different agglomeration pathways. Raman spectra were analyzed with particular focus on the intensities of I<sub>D</sub> and I<sub>G</sub> peaks; the graphene-type nature of the sponges was confirmed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:16:00Z |
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| id | doaj.art-6744e2d6b79b4b3781bb7c6254d13106 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:16:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-6744e2d6b79b4b3781bb7c6254d131062022-12-22T00:01:29ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912019-07-019797110.3390/nano9070971nano9070971Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol)Anna Ilnicka0Malgorzata Skorupska1Piotr Kamedulski2Jerzy P. Lukaszewicz3Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, PolandFaculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, PolandFaculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, PolandFaculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, PolandWe demonstrate an accessible and effective technique for exfoliating graphite foil and graphite powder into graphene in a water solution of inorganic salt. In our research, we report an electrochemical cathodic exfoliation in an aqueous solution of Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>. After electro-exfoliation, the resulting graphene was premixed with furfuryl alcohol (FA) and an inorganic template (CaCO<sub>3</sub> and Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>). Once FA was polymerized to poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA), the mixture was carbonized. Carbon bridges originating in thermally-decomposed PFA joined exfoliated graphene flakes and stabilized the whole sponge-type structure after the nano-template was removed. Gases evolved at the graphite electrode (cathode) played an important role in the process of graphene-flake splitting and accelerated the change of graphite into graphene flakes. Starting graphite materials and graphene sponges were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, SEM, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), elemental analysis, and low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen to determine their structure, morphology, and chemical composition. The discovered manufacturing protocol had a positive influence on the specific surface area and porosity of the sponges. The SEM and HRTEM studies confirmed a high separation degree of graphite and different agglomeration pathways. Raman spectra were analyzed with particular focus on the intensities of I<sub>D</sub> and I<sub>G</sub> peaks; the graphene-type nature of the sponges was confirmed.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/7/971grapheneelectrochemical exfoliationaqueous solutionpoly(furfuryl alcohol)Raman spectroscopygraphite electrode |
| spellingShingle | Anna Ilnicka Malgorzata Skorupska Piotr Kamedulski Jerzy P. Lukaszewicz Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol) Nanomaterials graphene electrochemical exfoliation aqueous solution poly(furfuryl alcohol) Raman spectroscopy graphite electrode |
| title | Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol) |
| title_full | Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol) |
| title_fullStr | Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol) |
| title_short | Electro-Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene in an Aqueous Solution of Inorganic Salt and the Stabilization of Its Sponge Structure with Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol) |
| title_sort | electro exfoliation of graphite to graphene in an aqueous solution of inorganic salt and the stabilization of its sponge structure with poly furfuryl alcohol |
| topic | graphene electrochemical exfoliation aqueous solution poly(furfuryl alcohol) Raman spectroscopy graphite electrode |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/7/971 |
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