Massive production of graphene oxide from expanded graphite

TL;DR

This paper presents a scalable, safer method for producing graphene oxide using expanded graphite and a spontaneous expansion process, bypassing the traditional Hummers method.

Contribution

Introduces a novel spontaneous expansion approach with expanded graphite as a precursor for efficient graphene oxide production, improving safety and scalability.

Findings

Produced fully exfoliated GO with median diameter ~15 μm

Method is safer and more productive than conventional Hummers method

Scalable process suitable for industrial applications

Abstract

In a deviation from the conventional Hummers method, a spontaneous expansion approach was introduced with expanded graphite as the precursors. The intercalating agent (H2SO4) was able to penetrate into the expanded graphite; this had further expanded the graphite and as a result, a foam-like intermediate was produced. The foam-like graphite was more easily oxidized in reaction with the oxidant (KMnO4) to form graphene oxide (GO). Fully exfoliated GO was obtained with expanded graphite having the median diameter ~ 15 {\mu}m as the precursors. This procedure was much safer and productive in scalable applications than the conventional Hummers methods.