Fluid dynamics: an emerging route for the scalable production of graphene in the last five years

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in fluid dynamics methods, especially vortex devices and pressure-driven techniques, for scalable and efficient graphene production, highlighting progress, mechanisms, and future challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging fluid dynamics approaches for large-scale graphene synthesis in the past five years.

Findings

Fluid dynamics routes are promising for scalable graphene production.

Vortex fluidic devices enhance exfoliation efficiency.

Key issues remain for industrial application.

Abstract

Bulk applications of graphene in fields such as advanced composites, conductive ink, and energy storage require cheap and scalable graphene. Fortunately, in the last decade, liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite to give pristine graphene has been thought as a promising way to massive production of graphene at high efficiency and low cost, in terms of the cheap and abundant graphite source and a variety of cost-effective exfoliation techniques. Though many exfoliation techniques are available so far, this article will highlight the recent progress of fluid dynamics route which emerges as a promising scalable and efficient way for graphene production in the last five years. The emphasis is set on vortex fluidic devices and pressure- and mixer-driven fluid dynamics, with our perspectives on the latest progress, exfoliation mechanism, and some key issues that require further study in order to realize industrial applications.