Patent ID: 8524067
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: B82Y,C01B,C25B

Abstract:
1. A method of producing ultra-thin, nano-scaled graphene platelets with an average thickness smaller than 2 nm or 5 graphene sheets from a layered graphite material, said method comprising: a) forming a carboxylic acid-intercalated graphite compound by an electrochemical reaction which uses a carboxylic acid or derivative as both an electrolyte and an intercalate source, said layered graphite material as an anode material, and a metal or graphite as a cathode material, and wherein a current is imposed upon said cathode and said anode at a current density for a duration of time sufficient for effecting said electrochemical reaction; b) rapidly heating said carboxylic acid-intercalated graphite compound to a desired temperature to produce exfoliated graphite; c) re-intercalating said exfoliated graphite by repeating step (a) using said exfoliated graphite as an anode material to form a further carboxylic acid-intercalated graphite compound; d) rapidly heating said further carboxylic-intercalated graphite compound; e) subjecting a graphite compound obtained in step (d) to a mechanical shearing treatment to produce said ultra-thin, nano-scaled graphene platelets with an average thickness smaller than 2 nm or 5 graphene sheets; and f) recovering said graphene platelets with an average thickness smaller than 2 nm or 5 graphene sheets.