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From Adhesive to Crystal: Dissecting the Miraculous Peeling Technique of Graphene!
In the materials science community, graphene has attracted widespread attention as a new two-dimensional material. Since its discovery, researchers have been exploring various techniques to produce graphene in order to gain greater popularity in commercial applications. However, how to efficiently extract and produce single-layer graphene has been a major challenge because purely two-dimensional crystalline growth is limited by its own properties.
Graphene is already present in graphite, but the extraction process requires clever tricks to maintain its two-dimensional shape.
Traditionally, researchers first used adhesive tape to peel off graphite. This method is simple and efficient. Proposed by Russian scientists Andre Geim and Kostantin Novoslov, they were finally able to obtain a single layer of graphene after multiple peelings. In this process, many technologies have been proposed to make the production of graphene more diverse.
Several production technologies of graphene
Mechanical peeling method
The mechanical peeling method separates multi-layer graphite into single-layer graphene through tape and other means. This method can produce graphene with low defects and extremely high electronic activity.
Liquid phase peeling method
The liquid phase exfoliation method relies more on the combination of solvent and machinery to exfoliate graphite into a single layer through intense shearing or ultrasonic treatment. Such a method can produce large amounts of graphene at room temperature, potentially paving the way for large-scale production.
Pyrolysis
In 2014, laser-induced graphene (LIG) was proposed, using CO2 laser to directly convert into porous graphene through a fixed polymer film. The technology could also facilitate a wide range of applications in production processes, such as in energy storage devices.
Electrochemical synthesis method
Another technique is electrochemical synthesis, in which the voltage regulation required can affect the thickness and defect density of graphene, thereby optimizing its properties.
The exploration of various methods is not only the pursuit of high-quality graphene, but also the search for feasible technologies suitable for commercial production.
Chemical vapor deposition method
In chemical vapor deposition, graphene is deposited in a controlled manner in a heated chamber, giving graphene extremely high quality and enabling large-area production. This technology is currently used commercially in the production of electronic products and is also one of the basic synthesis routes for high-efficiency materials.
Liquid phase peeling and ultrasonic method
By ultrasonic treatment between two immiscible liquid interfaces, the resulting graphene film can achieve high transparency. In addition, the use of ultrasonic waves can disperse graphene and keep it in a stable and uniform suspension to avoid reorganization.
Pyrolysis and supercritical refining method
Recent research shows that using supercritical liquids to treat graphene materials can further improve the yield and quality of graphene through pyrolysis. This technology is not only environmentally friendly, but also simplifies the production steps.
Summary
With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the mass production of new production technologies, the application prospects of graphene are becoming increasingly clear, involving many fields such as electronics, energy, and medical care. In the future, with the emergence of more efficient stripping technology, will we enjoy the convenience and changes brought by graphene technology on a larger scale?
