Scalable Production of Graphene Nanoplatelets for Energy Storage

Abstract

The difficulty of scaling up the production of high-quality graphene nanoplatelets remains a major challenge for the graphene community and inhibits commercialization across a variety of market segments and applications. Here, we demonstrate a compressed, permeable reactor that produces graphene nanoplatelets via electrochemical exfoliation and controlled pressure. In contrast to prior controlled-volume reactors, the second-generation reactor allows for both direct control of pressure on the graphite source and arbitrarily large batch sizes. We have measured how graphene production is affected by the electrode type and arrangement (working electrode and counter electrode), reactor dimensions, and reaction kinetics. The data indicate that the reactor must be thin in at least one dimension to avoid diffusion limitations, but the long dimension can be scaled up without decreases in the yield. As in other batch processes, the highest production rate occurs in the initial stage followed by a plateau in conversion. An expandable graphite feedstock results in a substantial increase in yield compared to graphite flake feedstocks under identical reactor conditions.

High‐density polyethylene reinforced by low loadings of electrochemically exfoliated graphene via melt recirculation approach

“…The reactor housing expands with the graphite as the reaction proceeds; this allows for high yields and scalable production. The detailed synthesis procedure for EEG sheets is reported in the previously published work 14,15 …”

“…Achee et al (prior work from the TAMU authors) developed a technique to overcome this hurdle by confining and compressing the parent graphite powder in a permeable and expandable membrane bag, which allows for continuous intercalation, expansion, and exfoliation of the graphite powders 14 . This process has already been proven to be scalable for producing bulk amounts of electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG) nanosheets 15 …”

Graphene nanoplatelets/epoxy nanocomposites: A review on functionalization, characterization techniques, properties, and applications

“…GNPs/epoxy nanocomposites developed for various industrial and advanced composites applications showed potential improvements in structural, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. [34][35][36] GNPs integrated epoxy nanocomposites have headed to a new category of nanocomposites for advanced industrial applications. GNPs/ epoxy nanocomposites are currently gaining popularity due to their remarkable characteristics, manufacturing flexibility, low filler demand, and nanofiller cost-efficiency.…”

Time‐dependent properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced high‐density polyethylene

“…Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs), which consist of multiple layers of graphene sheets, are alternative 2D materials that can be fabricated using lower-cost methods suitable for upscaling. 16,17 Due to the large aspect ratio of these 2D nanomaterials they can be used to modify polymers resulting in a notable improvement in the mechanical properties, 18 compared to neat counterparts even at relatively small loadings, 19 provided that a suitable processing technique is used that directly affects the quality of the particle dispersion. 20,21 Modeling and predicting the behavior of materials over time helps avoid extensive and time-consuming testing.…”