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A fluid dynamics route for producing graphene and its analogues

  • Article
  • Materials Science
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

A novel fluid dynamics route for scalable and efficient production of graphene and its analogues is demonstrated. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses strongly suggest that the bulk layered materials (graphite, BN, MoS2, and WS2) are efficiently exfoliated into individual layers containing mono- and few-layer nanosheets. Computational fluid dynamics analysis indicates that multiple fluid dynamics events are responsible for efficient exfoliation. Cavitation and pressure release can generate normal force for exfoliation. The velocity gradient-induced viscous shear stress, the turbulence-induced Reynolds shear stress, and shear effects stemmed from turbulence and flow channel-induced collisions can generate lateral force for exfoliation, resulting in theses bulk layered materials self-exfoliation down to single or few layers through their intrinsically lateral self-lubricating ability.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (2132025), the Special Funds for Co-construction Project of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20131102110016), the Innovation Foundation of BUAA for Ph.D. Graduates, and the Innovative Practice Foundation of BUAA for Graduates (YCSJ01201309).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory for Powder Technology Research & Development, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, 100191, China

    Min Yi & Zhigang Shen

  2. Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, 100191, China

    Min Yi & Zhigang Shen

  3. State Key Laboratory for Turbulence & Complex Systems, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Jinyang Zhu

Authors
  1. Min Yi
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  2. Zhigang Shen
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  3. Jinyang Zhu
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Correspondence to Zhigang Shen.

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SPECIAL TOPIC: Nano Materials

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Yi, M., Shen, Z. & Zhu, J. A fluid dynamics route for producing graphene and its analogues. Chin. Sci. Bull. 59, 1794–1799 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0303-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0303-9

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