Researchers from the CSIC and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) have recently developed a novel electrochemical reactor and procedure to fabricate graphene. This method has been tested as a prototype and shows high performance and fine tuning of the graphene oxidation. Graphene producers are being sought to collaborate and/or exploit the existing know-how through a patent license agreement.

Image of a high-quality-graphene sheet obtained by the novel method.

The novel technology is based on electrochemical exfoliation of graphite (even powder) and enables the fabrication of graphene in high yield. Through the novel cell design of an electrochemical reactor and a simple procedure a fine tuning of the oxidation degree of the graphene sheet is performed.

This method allows the fabrication of graphene suitable for many current and potential graphene applications in which the control of its oxidation degree plays an important role. Therefore, by controllable graphene oxidation it is possible to obtain from a high quality product (no defect neither oxygen content) to a high oxidation product like reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or even Graphite Oxide (GO).

High quality graphene sheets are obtained by this method, in comparison to current fabrication methods (except for Chemical Vapor Deposition or CVD).

It is easily scalable and modular, and highly efficient. The procedure needs lower energy, lower voltages and shorter time than other methods. Also, it reduces the amount and cost of the raw material, and special carbon electrodes are not necessary. Side products generated can be used again in the reactor without any
kind of treatment.

Contacto:

Isabel Gavilanes-Pérez, PhD.
Deputy Vice-Presidency for
Knowledge Transfer -CSIC
Tel.: +34 – 93 594 77 00
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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