Name: synthesis of graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions
Uploaded: 2019-07-17T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Graphene Nanofluids with Controllable Flake Size Distributions at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant&nbsp;No. 21776095), the Guangzhou Science and Technology Key Program (Grant&nbsp;No. 201804020048), and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Technology (Grant No. 2008A060301002). We thank LetPub (www.letpub.com) for its linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

1. Exfoliation of graphite in a liquid phase
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of reagents
	<ol>
		<li>In a dry clean flat-bottom flask, add 20 g of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and then add 1,000 mL of distilled water. 
		NOTE: If the suspension was not processed to satisfaction, the step could be repeated to obtain an additional suspension.</li>
		<li>Gently swirl the flask until the PVA fully dissolves. 
		CAUTION: PVA is harmful to humans; thus, protective gloves and surgical&#160;masks should be used.</li>
		<li>Add 50 ...

<ol>
	<li>Sadeghinezhad, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+comprehensive+review+on+graphene+nanofluids:+Recent+research,+development+and+applications.">A comprehensive review on graphene nanofluids: Recent research, development and applications.</a> Energy Conversion and Management. 111, 466-487 (2016).</li><li>Wang, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Highly+Efficient+Production+of+Graphene+by+an+Ultrasound+Coupled+with+a+Shear+Mixer+in+Supercritical+CO2.">Highly Efficient Production of Graphene by an Ultrasound Coupled with a Shear Mixer in Supercritical CO2.</a> Industrial &amp; Engineering Chemistry Research. 57 (49), 16701-16708 (2018).</li><li>Cao, H. Y., Guo, Z. X., Xiang, H., Gong, X. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Layer+and+size+dependence+of+thermal+conductivity+in+multilayer+graphene+nanoribbons.">Layer and size dependence of thermal conductivity in multilayer graphene nanoribbons.</a> Physics Letters A. 376 (4), 525-528 (2012).</li><li>Yang, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design+and+adjustment+of+the+graphene+work+function+via+size,+modification,+defects,+and+doping:+a+first-principle+theory+study.">Design and adjustment of the graphene work function via size, modification, defects, and doping: a first-principle theory study.</a> Nanoscale Research Letters. 12, (2017).</li><li>Khan, U., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Size+selection+of+dispersed,+exfoliated+graphene+flakes+by+controlled+centrifugation.">Size selection of dispersed, exfoliated graphene flakes by controlled centrifugation.</a> Carbon. 50 (2), 470-475 (2012).</li><li>Smith, R. J., King, P. J., Wirtz, C., Duesberg, G. S., Coleman, J. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lateral+size+selection+of+surfactant-stabilised+graphene+flakes+using+size+exclusion+chromatography.">Lateral size selection of surfactant-stabilised graphene flakes using size exclusion chromatography.</a> Chemical Physics Letters. 531, 169-172 (2012).</li><li>Galvin, K. P., Pratten, S. J., Nicol, S. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dense+medium+separation+using+a+teetered+bed+separator.">Dense medium separation using a teetered bed separator.</a> Minerals Engineering. 12 (9), 1059-1081 (1999).</li><li>Cai, C. J., Sang, N. N., Shen, Z. G., Zhao, X. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Facile+and+size-controllable+preparation+of+graphene+oxide+nanosheets+using+high+shear+method+and+ultrasonic+method.">Facile and size-controllable preparation of graphene oxide nanosheets using high shear method and ultrasonic method.</a> Journal of Experimental Nanoscience. 12 (1), 247-262 (2017).</li><li>Chen, L. X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oriented+graphene+nanoribbons+embedded+in+hexagonal+boron+nitride+trenches.">Oriented graphene nanoribbons embedded in hexagonal boron nitride trenches.</a> Nature Communications. 8, (2017).</li><li>Fan, T. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controllable+size-selective+method+to+prepare+graphene+quantum+dots+from+graphene+oxide.">Controllable size-selective method to prepare graphene quantum dots from graphene oxide.</a> Nanoscale Research Letters. 10, 1-8 (2015).</li><li>Oikonomou, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Scalable+bottom-up+assembly+of+suspended+carbon+nanotube+and+graphene+devices+by+dielectrophoresis.">Scalable bottom-up assembly of suspended carbon nanotube and graphene devices by dielectrophoresis.</a> Physica Status Solidi-Rapid Research Letters. 9 (9), 539-543 (2015).</li><li>Liu, Y., Zhang, D., Pang, S. W., Liu, Y. Y., Shang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Size+separation+of+graphene+oxide+using+preparative+free-flow+electrophoresis.">Size separation of graphene oxide using preparative free-flow electrophoresis.</a> Journal of Separation Science. 38 (1), 157-163 (2015).</li><li>Cui, C. N., Huang, J. T., Huang, J. H., Chen, G. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Size+separation+of+mechanically+exfoliated+graphene+sheets+by+electrophoresis.">Size separation of mechanically exfoliated graphene sheets by electrophoresis.</a> Electrochimica Acta. 258, 793-799 (2017).</li><li>Sun, Z. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-yield+exfoliation+of+graphite+in+acrylate+polymers:+A+stable+few-layer+graphene+nanofluid+with+enhanced+thermal+conductivity.">High-yield exfoliation of graphite in acrylate polymers: A stable few-layer graphene nanofluid with enhanced thermal conductivity.</a> Carbon. 64, 288-294 (2013).</li><li>Sun, Z. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amine-based+solvents+for+exfoliating+graphite+to+graphene+outperform+the+dispersing+capacity+of+N-methyl-pyrrolidone+and+surfactants.">Amine-based solvents for exfoliating graphite to graphene outperform the dispersing capacity of N-methyl-pyrrolidone and surfactants.</a> Chemical Communications. 50 (72), 10382-10385 (2014).</li><li>Du, B. L., Jian, Q. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Size+controllable+synthesis+of+graphene+water+nanofluid+with+enhanced+stability.">Size controllable synthesis of graphene water nanofluid with enhanced stability.</a> Fullerenes Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures. 27 (1), 87-96 (2019).</li><li>Tao, H. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Scalable+exfoliation+and+dispersion+of+two-dimensional+materials+-+an+update.">Scalable exfoliation and dispersion of two-dimensional materials - an update.</a> Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 19 (2), 921-960 (2017).</li><li>Phiri, J., Gane, P., Maloney, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-concentration+shear-exfoliated+colloidal+dispersion+of+surfactant-polymer-stabilized+few-layer+graphene+sheets.">High-concentration shear-exfoliated colloidal dispersion of surfactant-polymer-stabilized few-layer graphene sheets.</a> Journal of Materials Science. 52 (13), 8321-8337 (2017).</li></ol>

We have proposed a methodology for synthesizing graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions. The method combines two procedures: exfoliation and centrifugation. Exfoliation controls the lower size limit of the nanoparticles, and centrifugation controls the upper size limit of the nanoparticles.
Although we employed liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite to produce graphene nanoparticles, the following modifications to the protocol should be considered. Additional exfoliation p...

Traditional methods used to synthesize graphene nanofluids often use sonication to disperse graphene powder1 in fluids, and sonication has been proven to change the size distribution of graphene nanoparticles2. Since the thermal conductivity of graphene depends on the flake length3,4, the synthesis of graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions is vital to heat-transfer applications. Controlled centrifugation has been successfully applied to liquid exfoliated graphene dispersions to separate suspensions into fractions with different mean flake sizes5,6. Different terminal velocities used in centrifugation lead to different critical settling particle sizes7. The terminal velocity could be used to eliminate large graphene nanoparticles8.
Recently, size-controllable methods used to synthesize graphene via liquid-phase exfoliation have been introduced to overcome the fundamental problems encountered by conventional methods9,10,11,12,13. Liquid phase exfoliation of graphite has been proven to be an effective way to produce graphene suspensions14,15,16, and the underlying mechanism shows that the process parameters are related to the lower limits of the graphene nanoparticles size distributions. The graphene nanofluids were synthesized by the liquid exfoliation of the graphite with the help of surfactants17.While the lower limits of the graphene nanoparticle size distribution could be controlled by adjusting the parameters during the exfoliation, less attention is paid to the upper limits of the graphene nanoparticle size distribution.
The goal of this work is to develop a protocol that can be used to synthesize graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions. Because exfoliation is responsible only for the lower size limit of the resulting graphene nanoflakes, additional centrifugation is introduced to control the upper size limit of the resulting graphene nanoflakes. However, the proposed method is not specific to graphene and could be appropriate for any other layered compounds that cannot be synthesized using traditional methods.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Beaker</td>
			<td>China Jiangsu Mingtai Education Equipments Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>500 mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Beaker</td>
			<td>China Jiangsu Mingtai Education Equipments Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>5000 mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Deionized water</td>
			<td>Guangzhou Yafei Water Treatment Equipment Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>analytical grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronic balance</td>
			<td>Shanghai Puchun Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>JEa10001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter membrane</td>
			<td>China Tianjin Jinteng Experiment Equipments Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>0.2 micron</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Graphite powder</td>
			<td>Tianjin Dengke chemical reagent Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>analytical grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hand gloves</td>
			<td>China Jiangsu Mingtai Education Equipments Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laboratory shear mixer</td>
			<td>Shanghai Specimen and Model Factory</td>
			<td>jrj-300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Long neck flat bottom flask</td>
			<td>China Jiangsu Mingtai Education Equipments Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>1000 ml</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nanoparticle analyzer</td>
			<td>HORIBA, Ltd.</td>
			<td>SZ-100Z</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PVA</td>
			<td>Shanghai Yingjia Industrial Development Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>1788</td>
			<td>analytical grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Raman spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>HORIBA, Ltd.</td>
			<td>Horiba LabRam 2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scanning electron microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>LEO1530VP</td>
			<td>SEM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical mask</td>
			<td>China Jiangsu Mingtai Education Equipments Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>for one-time use</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer</td>
			<td>German NETZSCH Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>NETZSCH TG 209 F1 Libra</td>
			<td>TGA analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transmission electron microscope</td>
			<td>Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>JEM-1400plus</td>
			<td>TEM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UV-Vis spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Agilent Technologies, Inc.+BB2:B18</td>
			<td>Varian Cary 60</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
Try the professional online HTML editor

synthesis of graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions

A method for synthesizing graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions is presented. Graphene nanoflakes can be obtained by the exfoliation of graphite in the liquid phase, and the exfoliation time is used to control the lower limits of the graphene nanoflake size distributions. Centrifugation is successfully used to control the upper limits of the nanoparticle size distributions. The objective of this work is to combine exfoliation and centrifugation to control the graphene nanoflake size distributions in the resulting suspensions.

The existence of graphene nanosheets can be validated by various characteristic techniques. Figure 1 shows the results of the UV-Vis measurement for the various flake size distributions produced by the abovementioned protocol. The spectra absorbance peak obtained at a wavelength of 270 nm is evidence of the graphene flakes. Different absorbances correspond to different concentrations. The lowest absorbance observed corresponds to the highest centrifugation speed. The spectra strongly confirm...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Graphene Nanofluids with Controllable Flake Size Distributions at JoVE.com

Synthesis of Graphene Nanofluids with Controllable Flake Size Distributions

A method for synthesizing graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions is presented.

A method for synthesizing graphene nanofluids with controllable flake size distributions is presented. Graphene nanoflakes can be obtained by the ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

Template Directed Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold Nanotubes with Tunable IR Absorbance

A nearly parallel array of pores can be produced by anodizing aluminum foils in acidic environments1, 2. Applications of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) ...

A Simple Method for the Size Controlled Synthesis of Stable Oligomeric Clusters of Gold Nanoparticles under Ambient Conditions

Reducing dilute aqueous HAuCl4 with sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) under alkaline conditions produces 2 to 3 nm diameter nanoparticles. Stable grape-like ...

Synthesis and Characterization of Fe-doped Aluminosilicate Nanotubes with Enhanced Electron Conductive Properties

The goal of the protocol is to synthesize Fe-doped aluminosilicate nanotubes of the imogolite type with the formula (OH)3Al2-xFexO3SiOH. Doping with Fe ...

Nanosponge Tunability in Size and Crosslinking Density

We describe a protocol for the synthesis of linear polyesters containing pendant epoxide functionality and their incorporation into a nanosponge with ...

Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

We demonstrate a method for the synthesis of NixNb1-xO catalysts with sponge-like and fold-like nanostructures. By varying the Nb:Ni ratio, a series of ...

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures

Physical thermal deposition in a high vacuum environment is a clean and controllable method for fabricating novel molecular nanostructures on graphene. We ...

Using Graphene Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy to Study in Situ Nanocrystal Etching

Using Graphene Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy to Study in Situ Nanocrystal Etching

Graphene liquid cell electron microscopy provides the ability to observe nanoscale chemical transformations and dynamics as the reactions are occurring in ...

Synthesis of Substrate-Bound Au Nanowires Via an Active Surface Growth Mechanism

Advancing synthetic capabilities is important for the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The synthesis of nanowires has always been a ...

Synthesis and Structure Determination of &#181;-Conotoxin PIIIA Isomers with Different Disulfide Connectivities

Synthesis and Structure Determination of ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Âµ-Conotoxin PIIIA Isomers with Different Disulfide Connectivities

Peptides with a high number of cysteines are usually influenced regarding the three-dimensional structure by their disulfide connectivity. It is thus ...

Preparation of Graphene-Supported Microwell Liquid Cells for In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy

Preparation of Graphene-Supported Microwell Liquid Cells for In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy

The fabrication and preparation of graphene-supported microwell liquid cells (GSMLCs) for in situ electron microscopy is presented in a stepwise protocol. ...