Preparation of a stable graphene dispersion in propylene carbonate and evaluation of its electrochemical performance
摘要
Graphene and its composites have garnered considerable attention in various fields due to their exceptional properties. Obtaining stable graphene dispersion is challenging and limits its applications. Here, different amounts of graphite (G) were sonicated in propylene carbonate (PCB) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to prepare GPCB and GNMP dispersions, respectively. The stabilities of GPCB and GNMP and their properties were thoroughly studied using various techniques. In addition, the dispersion stabilities of G with commercial polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPy) were compared in PCB and NMP solvents. So, G was sonicated with PVPy in PCB and NMP to obtain GPVPy_PCB and GPVPy_NMP dispersions, respectively. Among the prepared dispersions, the GPCB and GPVPy_PCB dispersions remained stable for months. Graphene sheets in GPCB and GPVPy_PCB were smaller and thinner than in G, GNMP, and GPVPy_NMP. Furthermore, the insitu polymerization of vinylpyrrolidone (VPy) was performed on pre-treated G with PCB that yielded insituPVPy_GPCB. The insituPVPy_G composites were obtained by insitu polymerization of VPy on G without pre-treatment. The insituPVPy_GPCB composite exhibited thinner graphene sheets and improved properties. This consequence reveals an efficient method for preparing stable graphene dispersions. The electrochemical studies were conducted using composites derived from stable dispersions. Electrochemical measurements of GNMP, GPCB, and G were conducted by cyclic voltammetry using a standard three-electrode system in 3 M KOH. The calculated specific capacitances of the GNMP, GPCB, and G are approximately 73, 109, and 51 F g−1 at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1, respectively. This work provides a foundation for the development of exfoliated graphene materials and their electrochemical studies.