Size-controlled synthesis of graphite nanoflakes and multi-layer graphene by liquid phase exfoliation of natural graphite

Abstract Multi-layer graphene and graphite nanoflakes were produced through graphite liquid exfoliation using organic solvents. The nanoflakes size distribution was statistically analyzed, with the number of measured samples being high enough (from ∼200 to 900) for reliable evaluation of the statistical model. The nanoflakes size data were found to follow a log-normal distribution, with higher fraction of large size flakes as compared to a conventional normal distribution. The same kind of distribution was also obtained for nanoflakes thickness. Based on these findings, the detailed mechanism of the pristine polycrystalline graphite exfoliation in a liquid phase due to formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles was discussed. The high quality of nanoflakes was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy.