One-step green synthesis of graphene nanomesh by fluid-based method

Abstract

A fluid-based method is demonstrated for preparing graphene nanomeshes (GNMs) directly from pristine graphite flakes by a one-step process. The high efficiency is attributed to the combination of fluid-assisted exfoliation and perforation of the graphene sheets. Atomic force microscopy shows that the as-produced GNMs are less than 1.5 nm thick. The total area of the pores within 1 μm² of the GNM sheet is estimated as ∼0.15 μm² and the pore density as ∼22 μm⁻², The yield of GNMs from pristine graphite powder and the power consumption for per gram GNM synthesis are evaluated as 5 wt% and 120 kW h, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and Raman spectroscopy results indicate the purity of the GNMs and thus it is a green efficient method. The present work is expected to facilitate the production of GNMs in large scale.