Bubble‐Mediated Mass Production of Graphene: A Review

Abstract

The large-scale industrial applications of graphene highly depend on its mass production with efficiency (high-yield, time-saving, and low-cost) and controllability (high-quality, safe, and environmentally friendly). However, this requirement can hardly be satisfied by incumbent chemical exfoliation methods exploiting liquid-solid interactions. Recently, many studies have demonstrated that the usage of bubbling as a new tool makes a big difference in multiple aspects of graphene production. Benefiting from their unique properties, the bubbles can be employed as the driving force to cleave graphite layers for graphene preparation or as the favorite interface for graphene growth at a high temperature. Therefore, the bubble-mediated technique represents a new strategy promising to achieve efficient and controllable preparation of graphene. Here, the formation and evolution of bubbles in liquid media are first analyzed. Then, two routes including "top-down" and "bottom-up" toward mass production of graphene with the assistance of bubbles are summarized and discussed. This review sheds light on the introduction of gas to realize the mass production of graphene for the development of graphene's applications on large scale.

Engineering Active-Site-Induced Homogeneous Growth of Polydopamine Nanocontainers on Loading-Enhanced Ultrathin Graphene for Smart Self-Healing Anticorrosion Coatings

“…The oxygen groups of GO were negatively charged in the alkaline solution, which attracted K + ions into interlayers. Based on the catalytic reaction of K + and H 2 O 2 , GO flakes could be exfoliated by the generated bubbles, 22 which ensured the full exposure between GO and K + . Then, GO was mixed with the residual KOH and heated under 600 °C to achieve the etching of carbon atoms, 23 resulting in the homogeneous active sites on the graphene flakes.…”

Recent progress in melt pyrolysis: Fabrication and applications of high‐value carbon materials from abundant sources

“…Carbonaceous materials, encompassing carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene, have found extensive applications across multifarious disciplines such as energy, environmental science, materials science, catalysis, and electronics 1–3 . A persistent surge in national demand for these carbon‐based substances has been observed.…”

“…For example, the combustion method, entailing hydrocarbon burning under oxygen‐limited conditions, constitutes the primary technique employed for carbon black production 3,6 . Graphene and CNTs are primarily synthesized via “bottom‐up” or “top‐down” approaches including reduction‐oxidation processes and chemical vapor deposition 1,7,8 . Nevertheless, the employment of these methodologies invariably culminates in the considerable liberation of carbon dioxide emissions.…”

“…Carbonaceous materials, encompassing carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene, have found extensive applications across multifarious disciplines such as energy, environmental science, materials science, catalysis, and electronics. [1][2][3] A persistent surge in national demand for these carbon-based substances has been observed. For instance, China's graphene market size experienced substantial growth, expanding from 4 billion RMB in 2016 to 26.5 billion RMB in 2021, with a forecasted further increase to 31.2 billion RMB by 2022.…”

Recent progress in films with nanoengineered surfaces via bubble-induced self-assembly for energy applications

“…42 Briey, this BISA approach mainly uses the mechanism of the rapid microlayer evaporation of a liquid under bubbles. 43 Recently, various nanomaterials, such as metal-based nanoparticles, 44,45 inorganic nonmetallic nanoparticles, 46 and carbon-based nanomaterials, [47][48][49] have been used for the BISA to generate different lms with nanoengineered surfaces. In addition, lms with nanoengineered surfaces can be generated directly on different substrates including metal, polymer, silicon and glass.…”