Search Results

Several conventional methods on preparation of exfoliated graphite are in practice. However, their major limitations are poor quality of exfoliated graphite, lower yield, more expensive with higher processing time. To address these issues, a unique method for development of exfoliation of graphite using tri-solvents namely Water, Ethanol and Acetic acid is attempted in the present work. Ethanol acts as a supporting group for the long term stable dispersions of ex-graphite nanosheets. Glacial acetic acid, which readily dissolves in water, penetrates through the layers of graphite sheets and breaks the -C=C bond force between layers with the help of stirring and sonication resulting in exfoliation of graphite layers. Exfoliated graphite nanosheets were produced by using optimized mixtures of water, acetic acid and ethanol. XRD, SEM and FTIR studies have been carried out on the developed exfoliated graphite.