A rational design of cosolvent exfoliation of layered materials by directly probing liquid-solid interaction

Halim, U; Zheng, CR; Chen, Y; Lin, Z; Jiang, S; Cheng, R; Huang, Y; Duan, X

HERO ID

2283309

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2013

Language

English

PMID

23896793

HERO ID 2283309
In Press No
Year 2013
Title A rational design of cosolvent exfoliation of layered materials by directly probing liquid-solid interaction
Authors Halim, U; Zheng, CR; Chen, Y; Lin, Z; Jiang, S; Cheng, R; Huang, Y; Duan, X
Volume 4
Page Numbers 2213
Abstract Exfoliation of layered materials such as graphite and transition metal dichalcogenides into mono- or few-layers is of significant interest for both the fundamental studies and potential applications. Here we report a systematic investigation of the fundamental factors governing the liquid exfoliation process and the rational design of a cosolvent approach for the exfoliation of layered materials. We show that Young's equation can be used to predict the optimal cosolvent concentration for the effective exfoliation of graphite and molybdenum disulphide in water mixtures with methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and t-butyl alcohol. Moreover, we find that the cosolvent molecular size has an important role in the exfoliation yield, attributed to the larger steric repulsion provided by the larger cosolvent molecules. Our study provides critical insight into the exfoliation of layered materials, and defines a rational strategy for the design of an environmentally friendly pathway to the high yield exfoliation of layered materials.
Doi 10.1038/ncomms3213
Pmid 23896793
Wosid WOS:000323717300001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Journal: Nature communications ISSN: 2041-1723
Is Public Yes
Language Text English