Anode coverage for enhanced electrochemical oxidation: a green and efficient strategy towards water-dispersible graphene

The synthesis of water-dispersible graphene (W-Gr) is essential for both laboratory-scale studies and practical applications. Herein, we report a green electrochemical route followed by post-sonication to prepare few-layered W-Gr of 1–6 atomic layers in thickness and 1.0–7.0 μm 2 in area with a rema...

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Published inGreen chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 1306 - 1315
Main Authors Wang, Hui Shan, Tian, Su Yun, Yang, Si Wei, Wang, Gang, You, Xiao Fei, Xu, Li Xuan, Li, Qing Tian, He, Peng, Ding, Gu Qiao, Liu, Zhi, Xie, Xiao Ming
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2018
Subjects
Anode effect
Anodizing
Dispersion
Electrochemical oxidation
Electrochemistry
Graphene
Green chemistry
Oxidation
Sonication
Stability analysis
Terephthalic acid
Thickness
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Summary:The synthesis of water-dispersible graphene (W-Gr) is essential for both laboratory-scale studies and practical applications. Herein, we report a green electrochemical route followed by post-sonication to prepare few-layered W-Gr of 1–6 atomic layers in thickness and 1.0–7.0 μm 2 in area with a remarkably high yield (87.3%). Both outstanding dispersibility (8.2 mg mL −1 ) and good stability (at least 6 months) are achieved in water. Mechanism analysis indicates the critical effect of terephthalic acid coverage on the anode for adequate electrochemical oxidation, which is the prerequisite for subsequent bubble- and sonication-exfoliation. This partial anode coverage strategy provides a new possibility of a simple electrochemical setup to greenly and scalably fabricate graphene with specific functionality.
ISSN:1463-9262
1463-9270
DOI:10.1039/C7GC03345A