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Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
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Preparation of graphite intercalation compounds containing oligo and polyethers
Hanyang Zhang1, Michael M Lerner1
1Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. Michael.Lerner@oregonstate.edu.
Nanoscale
|February 6, 2016
Summary
Researchers created novel graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) by incorporating polyether bilayers into graphite. This breakthrough expands the use of graphite as a host material for polymer nanocomposites.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Layered host-polymer nanocomposites are widely studied, but incorporating polymers into graphite hosts remains challenging.
- Limited research exists on polymer guests within graphite inorganic sheets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first preparation and characterization of graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) with polyether bilayers.
- To explore novel methods for synthesizing these GICs.
Main Methods:
- Reductive intercalation of graphite using alkali metals, polyethers, and an electrocatalyst.
- Co-intercalate exchange reactions in donor-type GICs using amines and polyethers.
- Structural and compositional characterization via powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analyses.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of well-ordered, first-stage GICs containing polyether bilayers.
- Confirmation of alkali metal cations and polyether bilayers situated between reduced graphene sheets.
- Demonstration of two distinct synthetic routes for GIC formation.
Conclusions:
- Polyethers can be successfully intercalated into graphite, forming novel GICs.
- These findings open new avenues for graphite-based polymer nanocomposites.
- The developed methods provide versatile approaches for creating advanced materials.
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