Efficient and Sustainable Synthesis of Graphene via Liquid-phase Pulsed Laser Ablation (LP-PLA)

Abstract

Abstract Graphene, a 2D hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms, has emerged as a promising material with unparalleled properties. However, prevalent synthesis techniques often impose environmental, temporal, or scalability challenges. In this research, we reported an approach to graphene synthesis using Liquid-phase Pulsed Laser Ablation (LP-PLA) of five diverse carbon-based targets, namely commercial pencil grades (6B and 8B), flexible graphite (FG), commercial graphite rod (GR), and biochar (BC). Our methodology offers a greener, swifter alternative, leveraging minimal chemical precursors, rapid production, and tunable synthesis parameters. Results from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy consistently revealed the transition from graphite to graphene structures. Specifically, broadened XRD peaks around 2θ = 26.5° and the manifestation of the D, G, and 2D bands in the Raman spectra serve as unequivocal markers of this transition. High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) images further validated the layered graphene formations, particularly prominent in 6B, 8B, FG, and GR samples. Collectively, our findings illuminate the potential of LP-PLA as an efficient, eco-friendly avenue for graphene synthesis, emphasizing its versatility across varied graphite sources and laser parameters. This research thus delineates a significant stride towards addressing the contemporary challenges in graphene synthesis and sets the stage for its broader, sustainable applications.