For some time now, scientists have seen graphene as a proven successor to ITO (indium tin oxide). That is why there are numerous research projects that are looking for a cost-effective and large-scale production option for graphene.
Among others, materials scientists from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Organic Chemistry II) are also involved in graphene research and published their research results in the "Nature" magazine in August 2016.
Result: Defect-free graphene layers
The research report is about a significant discovery that aims to simplify the industrial production of graphene by discovering a mild and scalable method for production. The agent responsible for the simplification step is called benzonitrile. Which is used as a chemical starting material for syntheses or (but rather rarely) as a solvent.
It provides the quantitative discharge of reduced forms of graphite, such as graphite intercalation compounds, graphenide dispersions and graphenides, which are deposited on surfaces with the help of the said solvent. According to the researchers, benzonitrile has a comparatively low reduction potential and is reduced to the radical anion, which serves as a reporter molecule for the quantitative determination of negative charges on the carbon sheets. With the help of benzonitrile, the common production method of chemical exfoliation is optimized. The result is defect-free graphene layers whose conductivity can be controlled.
Details of the research report can be found on the website mentioned under "Source".
