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Synthesis of Graphene Nanosheets from Controlled Explosion of Liquid Precursors
SHUSIL SIGDEL, Justin Wright, Jose Covarrubias, Christopher Sorensen, Kansas State University
Abstract Number: 181
Working Group: Nanoparticles and Materials Synthesis
Abstract
The explosions of benzene, toluene and xylenes were carried out in a 16.7 L chamber in the presence of O2 at different fuel-rich molar ratios such that an aerosol of elemental carbon is produced. The product was a powder at higher oxygen content and an aerosol gel at lower oxygen where the carbon yield was larger. The explosion temperature was measured by a Spectrometer that detected black body, Planck radiation analysis of which indicated temperatures in the range 2000 - 2400 K. The product collected was characterized by Raman, XRD, BET, TEM, and etc. Raman showed two types of products, the amorphous soot at a lower temperature and multilayer graphene at a higher temperature. BET showed the graphene sample is highly porous (half pore width, 18nm) and has a high specific surface area, 388 m^2/g. We conclude that chamber explosion of aromatic hydrocarbons can produce graphene and the high explosion temperature during the reaction is the primary reason graphene is formed rather than soot.