Obtención y caracterización de pocas capas de grafeno en fase líquida asistido con zeolita natural usando solventes de bajo punto de ebullición

Abstract

Due to its unique properties, graphene has attracted great attention in many research fields. Different graphene synthesis methods have been developed in search of an efficient and environmentally friendly approach. In this curriculum integration work, the liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) of graphite was presented, a process that has been generating increasing interest among researchers, academics, and industrialists, due to its simplicity, low cost and scalability. This exfoliation of graphite was achieved by natural zeolite-assisted sonication in an aqueous medium, in this case, ethanol and isopropanol were used as the aqueous medium, in the appropriate proportions. During the experiment, the sonication time was varied, as well as the proportion of graphite and zeolite, in order to identify which of the samples showed the best results in terms of concentration and conductivity. It was determined that the sonication time and the ratio of graphite to zeolite had a direct influence on the concentration and conductivity. The energy generated by the dissipation of ultrasonic waves was used as is and then centrifugation was used to homogenise the results. The graphene dispersion was found to be stable, and the zeolite was observed to help prevent graphene aggregation. The characterisation results showed well dispersed multi-layered graphene, without any significant damage to its overall structure, which was established by checking the samples using the scanning electron microscope. The graphene obtained by this method has several potential applications such as: composite materials, conductive coatings, energy storage, electronic devices, among others.