Graphene-based materials from liquid phase exfoliation of graphite using mangosteen-peel extract: Experiments and molecular simulation

Information from the abstract

The conventional Hummers method for graphene production requires large quantities of hazardous chemicals, causing environmental impacts and sustainability concerns. This study investigated mangosteen-peel extract as a natural alternative in liquid phase exfoliation of graphite, exploiting the structural similarity between condensed tannins and graphite, which enables π−π interactions. Four exfoliation processes were studied: shear force via a homogenizer (9,500 rpm and 14,000 rpm for 41 min), sonication using an ultrasound bath (200 W and 400 kHz) for 2 h and 3 h at 50℃ and their sequential combinations. The results confirmed successful graphite exfoliation yielding samples with I2D/IG ratios of 0.51 to 0.55 which are comparable to commercial graphene-based products. This was also verified by the increased specific surface area using BET analysis and TEM imaging showing structures with five and more layers. The yields of exfoliated products from all processes were 4.39% to 8.5%. Lastly, Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that when changes of van der Waals interactions were considered, increasing condensed tannin concentration exerted the greatest effect on graphite exfoliation, followed by increases in pressure and temperature. This research demonstrates the potential use of mangosteen-peel extract as an environmentally friendly alternative for multi-layer graphene production.

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Related topics: Graphene research and applications · Fiber-reinforced polymer composites · Thermal properties of materials