Fabrication of Uniform Graphene Discs via Transversal Cutting of Carbon Nanofibers

Abstract

The graphene discs with well-defined shape are successfully fabricated using a simple oxidation and exfoliation process of high-crystalline carbon nanofibers (CNFs). To control the shapes of graphene discs, two different types of CNFs (platelet and herringbone-type) are used as starting materials. The CNFs are formed by the perpendicular stacking of graphene discs, resulting in free edges on the external surface and ready access to interlay spaces. Interestingly, the diameter and shape of the graphene discs can be controlled by selectively designing the morphology of starting materials and optimizing the cutting method. In addition, a mechanical reduction method for oxidized graphene discs is also proposed in order to combine the high recovery of π-conjugated electronic structure with the solution processability of graphene discs. The reduced graphene discs can be formed without any additives, such as reducing agent, and are highly dispersed in different solvents with a high content of graphene discs. This novel strategy offers great possibility for fabricating various graphene-based nanomaterials with rational nanostructure design.