We proposed a cost-efficient
method to produce graphene nanosheets
from graphite by using a high shear mixer in an aqueous sodium alginate
(SA) solution. The results from transmission electron microscopy,
X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,
and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the graphite was successfully
exfoliated into graphene nanosheets, the obtained graphene was modified
by SA after exfoliation, and improved dispersion in water was achieved.
The concentration of graphene could attain 0.60 mg/mL at a graphite
concentration of 15 mg/mL. When used as nanofiller, significant increases
of 65% and 73% in the tensile strength and storage modulus, respectively,
of poly(vinyl alcohol) were achieved by incorporating only 0.5 wt
% graphene nanosheets. When the exfoliated graphene was applied as
an electrode material for lithium-ion batteries, a high initial reversible
discharge capacity of 1450 mAh/g was obtained at 100 mA/g, and the
capacitive contribution made up about 20.1% at 1 mV/s, suggesting
that the unique structure of graphene nanosheets exhibited excellent
electrochemical performance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.