Electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in quaternary ammonium-based deep eutectic solvents: a route for the mass production of graphane. Issue 26 (15th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdelkader, Amr M.; Patten, Hollie V.; Li, Zheling; Chen, Yiqiang; Kinloch, Ian A.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 7:Issue 26(2015)
• Page Start: 11386
• Page End: 11392
• Publication Date: 2015-06-15
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c5nr02840j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : We demonstrate a facile and scalable electrochemical approach to exfoliate graphite, which permits in situ hydrogenation of the resultant graphene via a solvated NR 4+ graphite compound in quaternary ammonium-based deep eutectic solvents. Abstract : We demonstrate a facile and scalable electrochemical approach to exfoliate graphite, which permits in situ hydrogenation of the resultant graphene via a solvated NR 4+ graphite compound in quaternary ammonium-based deep eutectic solvents. Spectroscopic studies reveal the presence of sp 3 C–H bonds in the hydrogenated graphene. The resulting materials consist of micrometre-sized and predominantly monolayer to few layers thick hydrogenated graphenic flakes. A large band gap (∼4 eV) further establishes the high level of hydrogenation. It is also possible to tune the band gap introduced to the graphene by controlling the level of hydrogenation. The mechanism of the exfoliation and hydrogenation is also discussed.