Planar lighting from optimized graphite papers made of graphite oxide

We report the preparation of large-area graphite papers with thicknesses from 100 μm to more than 1 mm, by the reduction and graphitization of graphite oxide at elevated temperatures. The papers can be produced on a size of 20 × 20 cm2 and have a low mass density. X-ray diffraction and Raman characterization show that the stacking of graphitic layers in the papers follows the Bernal stacking, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates a carbon purity of above 98 at. % in the papers. The graphite papers have an electrical conductivity of 2533–4996 S/m and a thermal conductivity of 42–149 W/mK, depending on the thickness. When a power input of above 10 W is applied on the paper with a thickness of 98 μm, incandescence is observed, corresponding to a temperature of higher than 1000 °C, which is increased with the input power.