Preparation of the spheroidized graphite-derived multi-layered graphene via GIC (graphite intercalation compound) method

Artificially spheroidized natural graphite (SNG) was processed to obtain expanded graphite and graphene nanoplatelets using GIC (graphite intercalation compound)-assisted exfoliation process. Sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide were used as the intercalant and oxidant for the GIC formation, respectively. SNG was successfully converted into both expanded graphite and graphene nanoplatelets. Degree of exfoliation of the produced graphene nanoplatelets was found to be proportional to the average diameter of starting materials. Graphene nanoplatelets prepared from SNG with average diameter of 50 μm were analyzed to have the averaged lateral size of 45.4 μm at the thickness of ca. 5 nm.