Synthesis of graphene via electrochemical exfoliation of graphite

石墨烯是一种现代的神奇材料，是一种二维碳原子单层，具有出色的电气，机械和热性能。用于合成石墨烯的主要前体材料是石墨，石墨是一种天然元素矿物，通常存在于变质岩中，在火成岩中更少见。ZEN石墨烯解决方案有限公司，在该提案中被命名为ZEN，在安大略北方发现了一个大型和非常罕见的与岩浆有关的石墨存款。为了在工业应用中使用石墨烯，ZEN必须获得在工业规模上将石墨转化为石墨烯的知识。克服这一障碍将使ZEN能够将其石墨烯应用于各种高科技领域，如航空航天，国防，汽车，电子和医疗。这项研究计划旨在开发一种高效的电化学剥离装置，并有可能扩大规模，以从ZEN的石墨中生产高度结晶的单层/少层石墨烯。该提案包括三个主要阶段：（i）针对电极、电解质和适用于ZEN石墨的施加电位选择的文献综述（1个月）;（ii）电化学剥离电池的设计和制造（2个月）;（iii）影响参数的优化（3个月），包括恒电位仪产生的施加电位、阴极中石墨电极的数量和电解质的类型。最终，我们将生成一个针对ZEN石墨特性的电化学剥离装置的制造和优化协议。

Graphene, a modern-day wonder material, is a two-dimensional monolayer of carbon atoms, with outstanding electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The major precursor material for the synthesis of graphene is graphite, which is a native element mineral commonly found in metamorphic rocks and more rarely in igneous rocks. ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd., named ZEN in this proposal, has discovered a large and very rare igneous-related graphite deposit in Northern Ontario. In order to use graphene in industrial applications, ZEN must generate the knowledge to convert graphite to graphene at an industrial scale. Surmounting this hurdle will enable ZEN to exploit its graphene in various high-tech sectors, such as aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics and medical.This research proposal aims to develop an efficient electrochemical exfoliation setup, with the potential to scale up, towards producing highly crystalline single-layer/few-layer graphene from ZEN's graphite. This proposal is comprised of three major phases: (i) Literature review towards electrode, electrolyte and applied potential selection suiting ZEN's graphite (1 month); (ii) Design and fabrication of an electrochemical exfoliation cell (2 months); (iii) Optimization of influential parameters (3 months), including the applied potential generated by potentiostat, number of graphite electrodes in cathode, and type of electrolyte. Eventually, we will generate a protocol for the fabrication and optimization of the electrochemical exfoliation setup that is specific to the features of ZEN's graphite.