Issue 99, 2015

Graphene exfoliation in ionic liquids: unified methodology

Abstract

Exfoliation constitutes a promising and straightforward technique to obtain a high-quality product (graphene, GRA) from an affordable source (graphite). Success of the exfoliation is blocked by inefficient solvents, which must prevent backward aggregation of GRA. The search for a solvent with optimal physicochemical properties is currently underway. This work applies a systematic methodology to rate solvents with respect to their performance in GRA exfoliation. The established methodology was applied to 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [EMIM][BF4], an ionic liquid (IL). Having derived thermodynamic descriptors during a real-time exfoliation, we conclude that the performance of [BMIM][BF4] is mediocre. Nevertheless, [EMIM][BF4] is a suitable starting point to engineer more advanced solvents. According to binding energy decomposition, the imidazole ring drives the GRA–[EMIM][BF4] interactions, while the impact of [BF4] is significantly smaller. We discuss possible pathways to improve the performance of ILs for GRA exfoliation.

Graphical abstract: Graphene exfoliation in ionic liquids: unified methodology

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Pha 2015
Accepted
18 Leo 2015
First published
18 Leo 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 81229-81234

Author version available

Graphene exfoliation in ionic liquids: unified methodology

V. V. Chaban and E. E. Fileti, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 81229 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA16857K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements