Graphite is exfoliated into graphene by shearing vortex fluidic films of N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), as a controlled process for preparing oxide free graphene, and for exfoliating the corresponding boron nitride sheets.

Size fractionation, amplified by the surface charge density of graphene oxide (GO) sheets, broadens the pH dependent isotropic (I) to nematic (N) phase transition in aqueous dispersions of graphene oxide (GO). In this biphasic region, a highly organized droplet nematic phase of uniform size (20 ± 2.8 μm diameter) with an isotropic interior is observed.

The development of new mechanical actuators that convert external stimuli such as thermal, light, electrical, or chemical energy to mechanical energy depends on the development of new materials. Reversible mechanical actuators based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and hydrogel polymers have suggested applications in robotics, sensors, mechanical instruments, microscopy tips, switches, and memory chi...

Herein, we report a facile approach to decorate graphene oxide (GO) sheets with poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) by γ-ray irradiation-induced graft polymerization. The content of PVAc in the obtained sample, i.e., PVAc grafted GO (GO-g-PVAc) is calculated by the loss weight in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves. A GO-g-PVAc sample with a degree of grafting (DG) of 28.5% was well dispersed in com...

Extending the concept of synthesizing 2 d polymer sheets has been explored in this mini review to highlight about the future potentials inherent with this important class of engineered materials. The discovery of graphene (i.e. mechanically and chemically robust highly crystalline nano sheets with extremely high charge carrier mobility) not only dispelled the thermodynamic instability of 2D mat...

Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon sheet, has attracted great interest due to its unique properties. To explore its practical applications, large-scale synthesis with controllable integration of individual graphene sheets is essential. To date, numerous approaches have been developed for graphene synthesis, including mechanical cleavage, epitaxial growth, and chemical vapor deposition. All of t...

The excellent electrical, optical and mechanical properties of graphene have driven the search to find methods for its large-scale production, but established procedures (such as mechanical exfoliation or chemical vapour deposition) are not ideal for the manufacture of processable graphene sheets. An alternative method is the reduction of graphene oxide, a material that shares the same atomical...

The change of distance between individual graphene oxide sheets due to swelling is the key parameter to explain and predict permeation of multilayered graphene oxide (GO) membranes by various solvents and solutions. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study shows that swelling properties of GO membranes are distinctly different compared to precursor graphite oxide powder samples. Intercalatio...

Graphite oxide sheet, now called graphene oxide (GO), is the product of chemical exfoliation of graphite and has been known for more than a century. GO has been largely viewed as hydrophilic, presumably due to its excellent colloidal stability in water. Here we report that GO is an amphiphile with hydrophilic edges and a more hydrophobic basal plane. GO can act like a surfactant, as measured by...