Abstract
This study focused on the structural investigation of few-layer graphene (FLG) synthesis from bituminous coal through a catalytic process under microwave heat treatment (MW). The produced FLG has been examined by Raman spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, and AFM. Coal was activated using the potassium hydroxide activation process. The FLG synthesis processing duration was much faster requiring only 20 min under the microwave radiation. To analyse few-layer graphene samples, we considered the three bands, i.e., D, G, and 2D, of Raman spectra. At 1300 °C, the P10% Fe sample resulted in fewer defects than the other catalyst percentages sample. The catalyst percentages affected the structural change of the FLG composite materials. In addition, the Raman mapping showed that the catalyst loaded sample was homogeneously distributed and indicated a few-layer graphene sheet. In addition, the AFM technique measured the FLG thickness around 4.5 nm. Furthermore, the HRTEM images of the P10% Fe sample contained a unique morphology with 2–7 graphitic layers of graphene thin sheets. This research reported the structural revolution with latent feasibility of FLG synthesis from bituminous coal in a wide range.
Highlights
The highest intensity peak was obtained for the P10% Fe sample
The synthesis of the P10% Fe-loaded sam at a heating temperature of 1300 °C created a unique morphology with 2–7 graphitic la
The coal-based synthesis of few-layer graphene (FLG) was fabricated through potassium hydroxide modand lower defect levels, demonstrating thatIt more regular continuous thin shee ification with an microwave heat treatment (MW)
Summary
Academic Editors: In recent years, the focus on graphene in the research and commercial sectors has increased remarkably worldwide due to its novel properties such as thermodynamically stability, transparency, and higher mechanical strength and for its potential applications in several fields, such as in sensors [1], batteries [2], ultrafast photodetectors [3], transparent electrodes [4], and advanced nanocomposites [5]. Graphene is a sp2 -bonded monolayer carbon atom arranged in a 2D honeycomb frame. It displays unique electronic properties with high mobility and transportation [6,7]. FLG has attracted more commercial applications due to the potential to control electronic states using interlayer connections [9]. Each of the techniques has some drawbacks that are not feasible for the mass production of graphene [15]. These techniques are expensive, and the production processes contain toxic chemicals and long processing times. The CVD procedure is the most promising technique to make a high-quality mono- or few-layer graphene with large coverage areas using catalytic substrates and hydrocarbon gases [17,18]
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