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Optimizing the structure and molecular weight of polymers for graphene dispersants

Polymer Journal volume 54, pages 1377–1381 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon consisting of a single-atom-thick honeycomb lattice nanostructure. Among the various preparation methods for graphene, the liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite is mass-producible and cost-effective. To facilitate the exfoliation of graphite in organic solvents, polymers can be employed as dispersants. We synthesized polymer dispersants with various monomer ratios and molecular weights and investigated the efficient acquisition of graphene from graphite. Graphene with a uniform thickness was obtained when graphite was exfoliated using an optimized polymer dispersant. The optimized polymer enabled a high yield and concentration of graphene using liquid-phase exfoliation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (21H01763), JST CREST (JPMJCR20H3), and Kondo Memorial Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan

    Shimpei Takeda & Yuta Nishina

  2. Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan

    Yuta Nishina

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  1. Shimpei Takeda
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  2. Yuta Nishina
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Correspondence to Yuta Nishina.

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Takeda, S., Nishina, Y. Optimizing the structure and molecular weight of polymers for graphene dispersants. Polym J 54, 1377–1381 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-022-00684-2

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