1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a graphite oxide and graphene preparation method, particularly to a graphite oxide and graphene preparation method with plasma electrolytic process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Graphene is a newly discovered carbon nanomaterial and provided with many excellent properties such as linear spectrum, high electron mobility, the unique optical properties, high elasticity, sturdiness and single atomic width. The graphene is viewed as a breakthrough nanomaterial for applications in optoelectronics, energy and chemical material fields.
Since the graphite oxide can be used in manufacturing graphene, it has attracted great attention. The chemical reduction of the exfoliated graphite oxide has been widely considered to be the most promising approach for a large-scale production of graphene. Such process involves (I) oxidation of graphite to graphite oxide (GO) (II) exfoliation of GO through ultrasonication or thermal treatment to yield graphene oxide; and (III) chemical reduction of graphene oxide to a graphitic network of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms.
However, in the prior art, the mixtures of strong oxidants and concentrated acids are required for preparing GO and thus graphene in large scale, and strong acids are dangerous and unstable during the processing, requiring extra safety precautions. Moreover, the discharge of large quantity of acidic waste poses an environmental risk. Therefore, the preparation method of the graphite oxide still needs substantial improvements.
Paulmier. et al (Thin Solid Films 515(5):pp. 2926-2934) disclosed a cathode plasma electrolytic method to deposit the nano-crystalline graphite films. Paulmier placed graphite on the anode although Paulmier taught deposit carbon film on the cathode. Richenderfer et al (http://www.phys.cwru.edu/undergrad/Senior%20Projects/papers/papers2012/Richenderfer—Gao.pdf) taught that deposit carbon film on the cathode and promote the exfoliation of the graphite by passing the current through the electrolyte, but placed graphite on the anode and employed micro-plasma as the electrode to enhance the electric filed. Also, Richenderfer used acidic electrolyte (containing HCl) along with an electrochemical method that in needs of concentrated acid for reaction. Since the acidic solution manipulation in Richenderferes method is required, it leaves room for improvement.
In summary, it is now a current goal to develop a graphite oxide/graphene preparation method with advantages such as high efficiency and environmentally friendliness.
One objective of the present invention is directed towards developing a graphite oxide and/or graphene preparation method with low cost, easy preparation, efficiency and environmentally friendliness.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a graphite oxide and/or graphene preparation method comprises the following items and steps: providing an in situ plasma electrolytic apparatus that comprise an electrolyte, a cathode that is a graphite electrode for generating the plasma on its interfacial areas that are in contact with the electrolyte, due to the cathodic current passes through the graphite electrode so as to initiate a plasma electrolytic process at its surfaces, which are in contact with the electrolyte but without submerging into the electrolyte, to obtain the graphite oxide and/or the graphene that depends on the input voltage and the PH value of the basic electrolyte, wherein the input voltage of the plasma electrolytic apparatus is between 20 V to 80 V, and the output current of the plasma electrolytic apparatus is 0.3 A to 1.75 A. Here, in situ refers to that the plasma producing graphite cathode is also the source for generating exfoliated graphene oxide or graphene.
In one embodiment, the graphene comprises low proportion of oxide, wherein the total amount of C═C and C—C is larger than the amount of C—O.
The purpose, technical content, characteristic and effect of the present invention will be easy to understand by reference to the following detailed descriptions, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the particular embodiment.
Please refer to
The conventional plasma electrolytic oxidation reaction, also known as micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technology, can be also called anodic spark deposition and is usually used in preparation/production of aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloys. In the case of conventional plasma electrolytic oxidation adopts the work piece at a positive electrode and the electrode at the negative electrode, an oxide film as an insulating layer is formed on the surface of the substrate after the current passes through and the oxide film is also functioned as a base layer. The voltage is continuously applied until the voltage on the substrate exceeds the threshold, and some vulnerable areas of the insulating film will be breakdown, resulting in the phenomenon of micro-arc discharges. There are some changes occurring at the structure of the oxide film and resulted in the anodized metal. Therefore, the voltage applied in the plasma electrolytic reaction is generally higher in comparison to that applied in the conventional electrochemical reaction.
The anode 2 of the plasma electrolytic apparatus of the present invention are made of conductive materials and are not limited in principle, for example but not limited to graphite electrode and stainless steel or Pt. However, it is noted that the plasma electrolytic oxidation method of the present invention is different from conventional anodic spark deposition reaction. In this way, in one embodiment of the present invention, the anode 2 of the plasma electrolytic apparatus of the present invention is not made of conductive materials such as aluminum, magnesium, or titanium.
In the embodiment, the output voltage of the plasma electrolytic apparatus is 40 V to 80 V, and the output current thereof is 0.5 A to 1.75 A. In a preferred embodiment, the output voltage is 40 V to 60 V and the output current is 0.5 A to 1.2 A. The adjustment of the voltage and current in the present invention is used to generate plasma-assisted electrochemical exfoliation process in the plasma electrolytic apparatus, but prevent over high current which make the graphite oxide overproduction. The way of the adjustment for the current intensity includes, but not limited, output power, electrolyte concentration, and the relative size and location of the anode and cathode.
In the plasma electrolytic apparatus of the present invention, the area immersed into the electrolyte of the anode 2 is larger than that of the cathode 1, preferred larger than 11 times.
As shown in
The graphite electrodes used in the present invention does not necessarily require prior purification or any pretreatment. Therefore, the source of the graphite electrode of the present invention may include without limitations to natural graphite, compressed graphite, partially oxidized graphite or recycled graphite. Here, the recovered graphite electrode may be obtained from graphite electrode in the recycled batteries. In one embodiment, the graphite electrode is preferred as a high purity graphite electrode to obtain higher proportion of the graphene.
The pH of the electrolyte 3 used in the present invention may range from 11-17, preferably 11-14. The alkaline provider includes, but not limited, hydroxide, carbonate and the like.
The electrolyte 3 of the present invention may contain some appropriate electrolytes to control the conductive values. Here, in a preferred embodiment, the electrolyte 3 of the present invention may include ammonium ion to control and maintain the pH value of the electrolyte 3. In addition, the ammonium ions can be used to produce and release NH3 so as to drive and provide expanded graphite. Examples of ammonium ion provider may include without limitations to (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3 or NH4Cl. In addition, the electrolyte 3 containing carbonate and ammonia may be used for reaction in order to control and maintain the pH value of the electrolyte 3 and to promote reaction of graphite electrodes.
In one embodiment, the heating plate 5 (as shown in
In one embodiment, to enhance exfoliation and the homogeneity of the reaction, the magnetic stirrer 6 is used for stir in the beaker, and the magnetic stirrer 6 is driven by the heating plate 5 with magnetism.
The graphite oxide may be obtained by the plasma electrolytic reaction described above, and then continue subsequent purification step. The purification step includes, but not limited, filtration or centrifugation, and the like.
It is noted that the graphite oxide and graphene mixture may be obtained by the plasma electrolytic reaction described above. In a preferred embodiment, the graphite oxide and/or graphene include low proportion of oxide, wherein the total amount of the C═C and C—C is larger than the amount of C—O, suggesting that the graphene is more than the graphite oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of C—O is less than 10%.
The purpose, technical content, characteristic and effect of the present invention will be easy to understand and implement by reference to the following detailed descriptions, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the particular embodiment, but not limit the claim of the present invention.
The electrolyte, comprising KOH (5%, 200 mL) and (NH4)2SO4 (2.5%, 40 mL) at a pH of approximately 12, was preheated to an initial temperature of 70° C. A high purity graphite (HG) cylinder was used as the cathode and connected to a voltage supply unit (output negative voltage), the diameter and length of the cathode were 6 and 100 mm, respectively. The diameter and length of the other HG were 6 and 150 mm, respectively, and was used as anode in plasma-assisted electrochemical exfoliation (PAEEP) electrochemical system. The cathode of the tip surface of HG is placed above the electrolyte surface approximately 1 mm, and the anode thereof is immersed into the electrolyte. Both electrodes are connected to a DC current and offset voltage, which is gradually increased into 60 V, such that the area adjacent to cathode of the tip surface of HG and the electrolyte generates discharged plasma. In such process, solution temperature in the beaker is measured by a conventional mercury thermometer and maintained at 70-80° C. To enhance exfoliation and the homogeneity of the reaction, the magnetic stirrer was used for stir in the beaker, and maintained at the speed of 200 rpm/min. When the sufficient voltage 60 V between two electrodes was applied, the electrochemical reaction starts, and gases generate at both the surface of electrodes and the plasma is generated in the cathode of the tip surface of HG, simultaneously. As the result, the surface of the graphite electrode degrades slowly into sheets in micro size and dispersed in the electrolyte. It is noted that the tip position of the cathode may be lowered down to maintain the current range at approximately 0.65 to 1.25 A. The processing time for the sample applying 5 minutes.
Adding the obtained PEEG (15 mg) into N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) (15 mL) to obtain PEEG dispersion (1 mg/mL), and employ the ultrasonic cleaning tank, 20 kHz, power 130 W, 10 minutes.
The structures of the HG and PEEG powders were examined by a D2 X-ray diffractometer equipped with a Cu-Kα tube and a Ni filter (λ=0.1542 nm). The surface chemical compositions of HG and PEEG were determined by XPS (Phi V6000). Raman spectra of these samples were recorded using a high-resolution confocal Raman microscope (HOROBA JOBIN YVON Laboratory RAM HR 800) and a 514.5 nm Argon laser source. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images were recorded using a JEOL 2100F apparatus operated at 200 kV; for HRTEM measurement, a few drops of the HG, PEEG dispersion were placed on a Cu grid presenting an ultrathin holey C film. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was done using a JEOL JSM-6500F scanning electron microscope at 15 kV. For characterization of SEM sample, PEEG dispersion was filtered through an AAO membrane (Anodisc; diameter: 47 mm, nominal pore size: 0.02 μm), the solids were then dipped in EtOH to remove residual NMP, the sheets that floated on the surface of the EtOH were collected on a Si substrate for SEM measurement.
As described above, the graphite oxide and/or graphene may be synthesized through plasma electrolytic processing at a relatively low temperature, under atmospheric pressure within a very short period of time, without the need for concentrated acids and strong oxidizing agents, and thus the present invention provides with advantages such as low cost, easy preparation, high efficiency and environmental friendless. In addition, the present invention may produce slight oxidation in plasma electrolytic process by controlling current and voltage, so that graphene with the low proportion oxide may be obtained.
The embodiments as above only illustrate the technical concepts and characteristics of the present invention; it is purposed for person ordinary skill in the art to understand and implement the present invention, but not for the limitation to claims of the present invention. That is, any equivalent change or modification in accordance with the spirit of the present invention should be covered by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102131304 | Aug 2013 | TW | national |