Synthesis of graphene via electrochemical exfoliation of graphite

石墨烯是一种现代神奇材料，是一种由碳原子组成的二维单分子膜，具有优异的电、机械和热性能。合成石墨烯的主要前体材料是石墨，这是一种天然元素矿物，常见于变质岩中，更罕见于火成岩中。Zen Graphene Solutions Ltd，在本计划中被称为Zen，在安大略省北部发现了一个与火成岩相关的大型非常罕见的石墨矿床。为了将石墨烯用于工业应用，Zen必须产生在工业规模上将石墨转化为石墨烯的知识。跨越这一障碍将使Zen能够在各种高科技领域开发其石墨烯，如航空航天、国防、汽车、电子和医疗。这项研究提案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的石墨中生产高结晶的单层/少层石墨烯。该方案包括三个主要阶段：(1)电极、电解液和适用于Zen‘s石墨的外加电位选择的文献综述(1个月)；(2)电化学剥离槽的设计和制造(2个月)；(3)影响参数的优化(3个月)，包括恒电位器产生的外加电位、阴极中的石墨电极数和电解液的类型。最终，我们将制定一项针对Zen的石墨特性的电化学剥离装置的制造和优化方案。

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.