Synthesis of graphene nano-sheet without catalysts and substrates using fullerene and spark plasma sintering process

Abstract

Catalyst-free graphene nano-sheets without substrates have been synthesized using fullerene and a high direct current (dc) pulse in the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. Graphene nano-sheets were synthesized directly in the gas phase of carbon atoms which are generated from fullerene at a temperature of 600 o C. Characterization has been carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).