Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.

A method for producing a spherical nanocarbon fiber assembly, including: freezing a dispersion liquid containing cellulose nanofibers by spraying the dispersion liquid on a brine solution to obtain a frozen product; drying the frozen product in a vacuum to obtain a dried product; and heating the dried product in an atmosphere that does not burn the dried product, thereby carbonizing the dried product to obtain a spherical nanocarbon fiber assembly.

A method for producing a spherical nanocarbon fiber assembly, including: freezing a dispersion liquid containing cellulose nanofibers by spraying the dispersion liquid on a brine solution to obtain a frozen product; drying the frozen product in a vacuum to obtain a dried product; and heating the dried product in an atmosphere that does not burn the dried product, thereby carbonizing the dried product to obtain a spherical nanocarbon fiber assembly.

Provided are a cured product containing a single-layer graphene, a single-layer graphene, a preparation method therefor, and an article containing a single-layer graphene. The method for preparing the cured product containing a single-layer graphene includes (a) mixing graphite with a curable material and optionally a first solvent, and curing and molding same to obtain molded granules; (b) heating a system formed by the molded granules and optionally a second solvent, then introducing a gas for pressurization, and then releasing the pressure to obtain expanded granules; and (c) repeating step (a) and (b) several times, with the graphite and the curable material in step (a) replaced with the expanded granules, to obtain a cured product containing a single-layer graphene. The cured product containing a single-layer graphene is carbonized and separated to obtain a single-layer graphene. The article containing a single-layer graphene contains the cured product or the single-layer graphene.

Provided are a cured product containing a single-layer graphene, a single-layer graphene, a preparation method therefor, and an article containing a single-layer graphene. The method for preparing the cured product containing a single-layer graphene includes (a) mixing graphite with a curable material and optionally a first solvent, and curing and molding same to obtain molded granules; (b) heating a system formed by the molded granules and optionally a second solvent, then introducing a gas for pressurization, and then releasing the pressure to obtain expanded granules; and (c) repeating step (a) and (b) several times, with the graphite and the curable material in step (a) replaced with the expanded granules, to obtain a cured product containing a single-layer graphene. The cured product containing a single-layer graphene is carbonized and separated to obtain a single-layer graphene. The article containing a single-layer graphene contains the cured product or the single-layer graphene.

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing graphene based on a mixed inorganic acid solvent. By using the inorganic acid solvent with simple preparation and low-cost instead of expensive organic solvent to perform a solvent stripping method for manufacturing graphene products, it may avoid the problems of high toxicity and harsh preparation conditions caused by using organic solvents, reduce the requirement on temperature in the graphene preparation process of the solvent stripping method, and reduce the time required by graphene stripping treatment; thereby simplifying the preparation process, and facilitating the commercialization and large-scale development of the method for manufacturing graphene by the solvent stripping method.

The invention provides liquid compositions comprising conductive carbon particles and/or carbon nanoparticles, a thickening agent, and a solvent. The carbon nanoparticles are preferably a mixture of graphite nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes and the thickening agent is preferably a cellulose derivative. The liquid compositions can be used as ink to print highly conductive films that adhere to paper substrates.

The invention provides liquid compositions comprising conductive carbon particles and/or carbon nanoparticles, a thickening agent, and a solvent. The carbon nanoparticles are preferably a mixture of graphite nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes and the thickening agent is preferably a cellulose derivative. The liquid compositions can be used as ink to print highly conductive films that adhere to paper substrates.

A method of producing graphene sheets from coke or coal powder, comprising: (a) forming an intercalated coke or coal compound by electrochemical intercalation conducted in an intercalation reactor, which contains (i) a liquid solution electrolyte comprising an intercalating agent; (ii) a working electrode that contains the powder in ionic contact with the liquid electrolyte, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, lignite coal, or natural coal mineral powder; and (iii) a counter electrode in ionic contact with the electrolyte, and wherein a current is imposed upon the working electrode and the counter electrode for effecting electrochemical intercalation of the intercalating agent into the powder; and (b) exfoliating and separating graphene planes from the intercalated coke or coal compound using an ultrasonication, thermal shock exposure, mechanical shearing treatment, or a combination thereof to produce isolated graphene sheets.

Provided is a method of producing isolated graphene sheets from a supply of coke or coal powder containing therein domains of hexagonal carbon atoms and/or hexagonal carbon atomic interlayers. The method comprises: (a) dispersing particles of the coke or coal powder in a liquid medium containing therein an optional surfactant or dispersing agent to produce a suspension or slurry, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, anthracite, lignite coal, bituminous coal, or natural coal mineral powder, or a combination thereof; and (b) exposing the suspension or slurry to ultrasonication at an energy level for a sufficient length of time to produce the isolated graphene sheets.