Growing Three-dimensional Biomorphic Graphene Powders using Naturally Abundant Diatomite Templates Towards High Solution Processability

 

K Chen, C Li, LR Shi, T Gao, XJ Song, A Bachmatiuk, ZY Zou, B Deng, QQ Ji, DL Ma, HL Peng, ZL Du, M Rümmeli, YF Zhang*, ZF Liu*, Nature Commun. 2016, 7, 13440.

 

ABSTRACT: Mass production of high-quality graphene with low cost is the footstone for its widespread practical applications. We present herein a self-limited growth approach for producing graphene powders by a small-methane-flow chemical vapour deposition process on naturally abundant and industrially widely used diatomite (biosilica) substrates. Distinct from the chemically exfoliated graphene, thus-produced biomorphic graphene is highly crystallized with atomic layer-thickness controllability, structural designability and less noncarbon impurities. In particular, the individual graphene microarchitectures preserve a three-dimensional naturally curved surface morphology of original diatom frustules, effectively overcoming the interlayer stacking and hence giving excellent dispersion performance in fabricating solution-processible electrodes. The graphene films derived from as-made graphene powders, compatible with either rod-coating, or inkjet and roll-to-roll printing techniques, exhibit much higher electrical conductivity (B110,700 Sm1 at 80% transmittance) than previously reported solution-based counterparts. This work thus puts forward a practical route for low-cost mass production of various powdery two-dimensional materials.