Patent ID: 7537682
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: B82Y,C01B,D01F,D06M

Abstract:
1. A method of purifying a sample containing a carbon material having a selected structure said method comprising the steps of: providing said sample containing said carbon material having said selected structure and impurities comprising carbonaceous impurities, wherein said carbonaceous impurities comprise one or more carbon layers having a structure different than that of said selected structure; exfoliating at least a portion of the carbon layers of said carbonaceous impurities, thereby generating exfoliated carbonaceous material; and removing said impurities, thereby purifying said sample containing said carbon material having said selected structure, wherein said step of exfoliating comprises adding an intercalant to said sample, wherein said intercalant inserts into interstitial sites in between multiple carbon layers comprising said carbonaceous impurities, interstitial sites between the carbon layers comprising said carbonaceous impurities and said carbon material having said selected structure, or both, thereby generating intercalated carbon layers, and wherein said intercalant is electrochemically intercalated into said carbon layers by application of an electric potential or electric current to said sample.