Production of graphene nanoribbons with controlled dimensions and crystallographic orientation

摘要

Graphene particulates, especially graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and a high-throughput process for the production of such particulates is provided. The graphene particulates are produced by a nanotomy process in which graphene blocks are cut from a source of graphite and then exfoliated into a plurality of graphene particulates. Graphene particulates having narrow widths, on the order of 100 nm or less, can be produced having band gap properties suitable for use in a variety of electrical applications.

主权项

1. A method of producing a plurality of graphene particulates comprising:
providing a source of graphite and determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite; using the determined crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite to determine a cutting angle for said source of graphite; cutting a plurality of graphite blocks from said source of graphite utilizing a cutting mechanism, said source of graphite being oriented relative to said cutting mechanism such that said cutting mechanism cuts said source of graphite at said cutting angle, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 100 nm; and exposing said plurality of graphite blocks to an acid and causing said graphite blocks to exfoliate into a plurality of substantially uniform, electrically semiconductive graphene particulates having an armchair edge crystallographic orientation and a band gap, said cutting angle being set so as to provide said graphene particulates having said armchair edge crystallographic orientation upon exfoliation of said graphite blocks.