Effects of Tip Sonication Parameters on Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Graphite into Graphene Nanoplatelets

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) can be produced by exfoliating graphite in solvents via high-power tip sonication. In order to understand the influence of tip sonication parameters on graphite exfoliation to form GNPs, three typical flaked graphite samples were exfoliated into GNPs via tip sonication at power of 60, 100, 200, or 300 W for 10, 30, 60, 90, 120, or 180 min. The concentration of GNP dispersions, the size and defect density of the produced GNPs, and the sedimentation behavior of GNP dispersions produced under various tip sonication parameters were determined. The results indicated that the concentration of the GNP dispersions was proportional to the square root of sonication energy input (the product of sonication power and time). The size and ID/IG values (determined by Raman spectrum) of GNPs produced under various tip sonication powers and times ranged from ~ 1 to ~ 3 μm and ~ 0.1 to ~ 0.3, respectively, which indicated that all the produced GNPs were of high quality. The sedimentation behavior of GNP dispersions showed that the dispersions were favorably stable, and the concentration of each GNP dispersion was ~ 70% of its initial concentration after sedimentation for 96 h. Moreover, the TEM images and electron diffraction patterns were used to confirm that the produced GNPs were few-layer. This study has important implications for selecting the suitable tip sonicating parameters in exfoliating graphite into GNPs.