Nano-sized graphene flakes: insights from experimental synthesis and first principles calculations

Abstract

In this study, we proposed a cost-effective method for preparing graphene nano-flakes (GNFs) derived from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via three steps (pressing, homogenization and sonication exfoliation processes). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), laser scattering, as well as ultraviolet-visible and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were carried out. The results indicated that the size of as-synthesized GNFs was approximately 40-50 nm. Furthermore, we also used first principles calculations to understand the transformation from CNTs to GNFs from the viewpoints of the edge formation energies of GNFs in different shapes and sizes. The corresponding photoluminescence measurements of GNFs were carried out in this work.

Green and facile synthesis of few-layer graphene via liquid exfoliation process for Lithium-ion batteries

“…The synthesis of graphene has been carried out by various methods such as exfoliation and cleavage, ultrasonic exfoliation 9 , 10 , growth on SiC 11 , 12 , chemical vapor deposition 13 , 14 , molecular beam epitaxy, chemical synthesis 15 – 18 , chemical routes and other methods 19 – 21 . Mass production of graphene or few layer graphene is being hindered by the expensive cost and environmental threat of its conventional synthesis.…”

The Electronic Structure of Graphene Nanoislands: A CAS-SCF and NEVPT2 Study

“…These kinds of structure have recently attracted both experimental and theoretical consideration. For instance, Lin and coworkers [8] proposed a new route of synthesis of hexagonal and triangular (and also rectangular) graphene nanoflakes from carbon nanotubes and characterized them using photoluminescence. Pelloni and Lazzeretti [9] looked at the density response to an external magnetic field of triangular, rhombus, hexagonal, and rectangular structures using the polygonal current model [10].…”