William Marsh Rice University

Ayrat M Dimiev

James Mitchell Tour

Dmitry Kosynkin

Gabriel Ceriotti

Methods of producing graphene nanoplatelets by exposing graphite to a medium to form a dispersion of graphite in the medium. In some embodiments, the exposing results in formation of graphene nanoplatelets from the graphite. In some embodiments, the medium includes the following components: (a) an acid; (b) a dehydrating agent; and (c) an oxidizing agent. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure result in the formation of graphene nanoplatelets at a yield of more than 90%. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure result in the formation of graphene nanoplatelets in bulk quantities that are more than about a 1 kg of graphene nanoplatelets. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertains to the formed graphene nanoplatelets. In some embodiments, the graphene nanoplatelets include a plurality of layers, such as from about 1 layer to about 100 layers.

Production of graphene nanoplatelets by oxidative anhydrous acidic media

The present invention provides methods of selectively removing one or more graphene layers from a graphene material by: (1) applying a metal to a surface of the graphene material; and (2) applying a hydrogen containing solution to the surface of the graphene material that is associated with the metal. The hydrogen containing solution dissolves the metal along with one or more layers of graphene associated with the metal, thereby removing the layer(s) of graphene from the graphene material. In some embodiments, the hydrogen containing solution is an acidic solution, such as hydrochloric acid. In some embodiments, the metal is zinc. In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention are utilized to selectively remove one or more layers of graphene from one or more targeted sites on the surface of a graphene material.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Ayrat M Dimiev