Abstract
Fully exploiting the properties of graphene will require a method for the mass production of this remarkable material. Two main routes are possible: large-scale growth or large-scale exfoliation. Here, we demonstrate graphene dispersions with concentrations up to ∼0.01 mg ml−1, produced by dispersion and exfoliation of graphite in organic solvents such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone. This is possible because the energy required to exfoliate graphene is balanced by the solvent–graphene interaction for solvents whose surface energies match that of graphene. We confirm the presence of individual graphene sheets by Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Our method results in a monolayer yield of ∼1 wt%, which could potentially be improved to 7–12 wt% with further processing. The absence of defects or oxides is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron, infrared and Raman spectroscopies. We are able to produce semi-transparent conducting films and conducting composites. Solution processing of graphene opens up a range of potential large-area applications, from device and sensor fabrication to liquid-phase chemistry.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices and Science Foundation Ireland for financial support and Nacional de Grafite (Brazil) for supplying flake graphite. V.N. wishes to thank the EU project ESTEEM for facilitating access to the microscopy facilities in Oxford. A.C.F. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust and the Royal Society.
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J.N.C. conceived and designed the experiments. Y.H., V.N., M.L., F.M.B., Z.S., S.D., B.H., M.B., P.N., S.K., R.G. and V.S. performed the experiments. I.T.McG., R.G., A.C.F. and J.N.C. analysed the data. Y.K.G., J.J.B., G.D., R.G., J.H., A.C.F. and J.N.C. contributed materials/analysis tools. A.C.F. and J.N.C. co-wrote the paper. Y.H. and V.N. contributed equally to this work. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.
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Hernandez, Y., Nicolosi, V., Lotya, M. et al. High-yield production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite. Nature Nanotech 3, 563–568 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.215
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.215
