Reversible conversion between graphene nanosheets and graphene nanoscrolls at room temperature.

Yanzhe Gai,Huijun Tan,Yaping Zhao,Minyan Lin,Wucong Wang,Ding Xiao

doi:10.1039/c8ra00475g

Abstract

In this paper, the reversible conversion between pristine graphene nanosheets and pristine graphene nanoscrolls at room temperature was reported. The graphene nanosheets were rolled up into the graphene nanoscrolls by silver nitrate in ethanol solution, and the fabricated graphene nanoscrolls were unfolded back to the graphene nanosheets in ethanol solution by adding ammonium hydroxide. The dynamic conversion state of the process was confirmed by the morphology of the intermediate samples captured using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. Also, AFM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy displayed that the graphene transformed from its nanoscrolls remained the structure and morphology of the started graphene. The reason for the formation of the nanoscrolls was assigned to the silver cyanide particles generated on the edge of the graphene. The freshly formed silver cyanide caused the unbalanced energy of the graphene surface by changing the pi electron distribution and triggered off the graphene to roll up. The unfolding of the graphene nanoscrolls back to the graphene nanosheets was attributed to the removal of the silver cyanide by the ammonia via forming the complex. This reversible conversion might be a novel and facile approach to make graphene nanoscrolls and to store the graphene. Also, it may bring new sight to the conversion research between two-dimension and one-dimension materials.

Highlights

Graphene has attracted considerable attention since it was discovered because it has potential applications in numerous elds owing to its excellent electronic, mechanical, optical and thermal properties.[1,2,3] It is a foundational material of the family of carbon nanomaterials, from which fullerene, carbon nanotube, and graphite can be formed from the structural point of view.[4,5,6,7] Graphene nanoscrolls is a new type of carbon nanomaterial
We reported a novel and facile approach to realize the mutual transformation of graphene nanosheets and
A novel and facile approach has been developed to achieve the reversible conversion between graphene nanosheets and graphene nanoscrolls

Summary

Introduction

Graphene has attracted considerable attention since it was discovered because it has potential applications in numerous elds owing to its excellent electronic, mechanical, optical and thermal properties.[1,2,3] It is a foundational material of the family of carbon nanomaterials, from which fullerene, carbon nanotube, and graphite can be formed from the structural point of view.[4,5,6,7] Graphene nanoscrolls is a new type of carbon nanomaterial. AFM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy displayed that the graphene transformed from its nanoscrolls remained the structure and morphology of the started graphene.

Results

Conclusion