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Title: Production of ultra-thin nano-scaled graphene platelets from meso-carbon micro-beads

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1163838

A method of producing nano-scaled graphene platelets (NGPs) having an average thickness no greater than 50 nm, typically less than 2 nm, and, in many cases, no greater than 1 nm. The method comprises (a) intercalating a supply of meso-carbon microbeads (MCMBs) to produce intercalated MCMBs; and (b) exfoliating the intercalated MCMBs at a temperature and a pressure for a sufficient period of time to produce the desired NGPs. Optionally, the exfoliated product may be subjected to a mechanical shearing treatment, such as air milling, air jet milling, ball milling, pressurized fluid milling, rotating-blade grinding, or ultrasonicating. The NGPs are excellent reinforcement fillers for a range of matrix materials to produce nanocomposites. Nano-scaled graphene platelets are much lower-cost alternatives to carbon nano-tubes or carbon nano-fibers.

Research Organization:
Nanotek Instruments, Inc., Dayton, OH (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Assignee:
Nanotek Instruments, Inc. (Dayton, OH)
Patent Number(s):
8,883,114
Application Number:
12/005,015
OSTI ID:
1163838
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2007 Dec 26
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (12)

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Method of manufacturing flexible graphite patent April 1996
Formic acid-graphite intercalation compound patent December 1997
Method for expanding lamellar forms of graphite and resultant product patent September 2001
Thin-film-like particles having skeleton constructed by carbons and isolated films patent July 2003
Chemical manufacture of nanostructured materials patent March 2005
Nano-scaled graphene plates patent July 2006
Graphite intercalation and exfoliation process patent September 2006
Electrochemical performance of expanded mesocarbon microbeads as anode material for lithium-ion batteries journal January 2006
Recommended terminology for the description of carbon as a solid (IUPAC Recommendations 1995) journal January 1995

Cited By (2)

Large scale production of oxidized graphene patent March 2017
Large scale production of thinned graphite, graphene, and graphite-graphene composites patent October 2016