Synthesis of graphene via electrochemical exfoliation in different electrolytes for direct electrodeposition of a Cu/graphene composite coating. Issue 61 (1st November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mao, Xinyu; Zhu, Liqun; Liu, Huicong; Chen, Haining; Ju, Pengfei; Li, Weiping
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 9:Issue 61(2019)
• Page Start: 35524
• Page End: 35531
• Publication Date: 2019-11-01
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ra06541e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Electrochemically exfoliated graphene was directly dispersed in the DMF/H2 O solution for electrodeposition of a Cu/graphene composite coating. Abstract : Directly dispersing graphene into an electrolyte still remains a crucial difficulty in electrodepositing a graphene enhanced composite coating onto electrical contact materials. Herein, graphene was synthesized via electrochemical exfoliation in an N, N -dimethylformamide (DMF)/H2 O solution containing (NH4 )2 SO4 . The electrochemically exfoliated graphene nanosheets (GNs) were directly dispersed by sonication. In comparison with graphene synthesized from aqueous solution, the GNs electrochemically exfoliated in the DMF/H2 O–(NH4 )2 SO4 solution exhibit a lower degree of oxidation. Cu/graphene composite coatings were subsequently electrodeposited onto Cu foils by adding Cu 2+ into the as-fabricated graphene solution. The surface nanostructure of the Cu/graphene composite coatings was transformed from loose pine needles to a uniform and compact structure with an increase in the concentration of Cu 2+, which indicated that the controllable synthesis of Cu/graphene composite coatings with different performances could be achieved in graphene dispersions after adding Cu 2+ . In order to synthesize graphene via electrochemical exfoliation and directly electrodeposit a Cu/graphene composite coating without adding CuSO4 or any other additive, an attempt was made to directly electrodeposit a Cu/graphene composite coating in CuSO4 /DMF/H2 O solution after electrochemical exfoliation.