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. 2023 Mar 9;16(6):2188.
doi: 10.3390/ma16062188.

Optimization of the Electrochemical Method of Obtaining Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs)

Adrianna Grabowska  1   2 , Jerzy Kowalczyk  2 , Robert Tomala  2 , Maciej Ptak  2 , Małgorzata Małecka  2 , Anna Wędzyńska  2 , Mariusz Stefanski  2 , Wiesław Stręk  2 , Paweł Głuchowski  2
Affiliations

Optimization of the Electrochemical Method of Obtaining Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs)

Adrianna Grabowska et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were prepared using the electrolytic exfoliation method on graphite foil in an ammonium sulfate solution. A series of experiments were conducted in order to optimize the production of the flakes by varying the pH of the solution, applied voltage and current, duration of electrolysis, temperature in the electrolytic system, and type and duration of the ultrasound interaction. The quality of the produced graphene nanoplatelets was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Raman and IR spectroscopy, and TEM.

Keywords: IR; Raman spectroscopy; TEM; XRD; electrolysis; exfoliation in liquid-phase; graphene nanoplatelets; zeta potential.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental setup used for electrochemical exfoliations: (a) scheme; (b) photograph.
Figure 2
Figure 2
XRD patterns of the selected samples after optimization of synthesis parameters (electrochemical exfoliation with a 10 V voltage, after 60 min of the process; synthesis in the solution chilled to 5 °C, after processing in a solution with an alkaline pH = 10.3, after sonification of the product with 630 W ultrasound, and after sonification of the GNPs in a solution of 67% water and 33% acetone), along with the reference sample.
Figure 3
Figure 3
TEM images of graphene samples obtained with optimized synthesis parameters (a) with a 10 V voltage, (b) after 60 min of electrochemical process, (c) in the solution chilled to 5 °C, (d) in a solution with an alkaline pH = 10.3, (e) after sonification with 630 W ultrasound, and (f) after sonification in a solution of water and acetone (33% acetone).
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM images of graphene samples obtained at different voltage and EDS analysis of the GNPs obtained at 10 V.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The Raman spectra of selected samples from optimization series.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The IR spectra of selected samples obtained under different conditions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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