Synthesis of graphene via electrochemical exfoliation of graphite

石墨烯是一种现代神奇材料，它是一种二维单层碳原子，具有出色的电学、机械和热性能。石墨烯的主要前驱体材料是石墨，石墨是一种天然元素矿物，常见于变质岩中，在火成岩中较为少见。ZEN石墨烯解决方案有限公司，在本次提案中命名为ZEN，在安大略省北部发现了一个非常罕见的大型火成岩相关石墨矿床。为了在工业应用中使用石墨烯，ZEN必须产生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能够在航空航天、国防、汽车、电子和医疗等各种高科技领域利用其石墨烯。该研究计划旨在开发一种高效的电化学剥离装置，具有扩大规模的潜力，从而从ZEN的石墨中生产出高结晶的单层/少层石墨烯。本课题主要分为三个阶段：(1)针对ZEN石墨的电极、电解液和应用电位选择进行文献综述（1个月）；设计和制造电化学剥离电池（2个月）；（三）优化影响参数（3个月），包括恒电位器产生的施加电位、阴极石墨电极数量和电解质类型。最终，我们将为制造和优化电化学剥离装置制定一个方案，该方案针对ZEN石墨的特点。

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.