Abstract
The cost effective and scalable production of nanoscale graphitic structures, such as graphene, has been a design challenge for researchers across a wide variety of disciplines. Commonly used in industry and laboratory settings alike, mechanical and chemical exfoliation of graphite are among the most prominent methods of creating these useful 2-D formations. By utilizing a tribometer to generate precise, controllable mechanical force, the exfoliation of a polycrystalline graphite rod was achieved via tribochemical means at a sliding interface with a platinum nanoparticle catalyst. The deposited graphitic material caused a measurable decrease in friction at the interface, due to graphite's lubricity, and atomic force microscopy measurements consistently verified the presence of 1–3 layer carbon structures for a short time period. Additional surface analysis was performed within the wear track using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to characterize the catalytic effect of the platinum on the graphite. Methods, such as the one described herein, are a step towards simple and greener methodologies to produce graphene.
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