The efflorescent carbon allotropes: fractality preserved blooming through alkali treatment and exfoliation

Abstract

The work reported in the paper elucidates morphological modification induced nanoart and surface area enhancement of graphite, graphene, and soot containing carbon allotropes through ultrasonication and alkali-treatment. The field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) analysis of the samples before and after exfoliation reveals the formation of brilliant flower-like structures from spindle-like basic units due to Ostwald ripening. The x-ray diffraction analysis of the samples gives information about structural composition. The fractal analysis of the FESEM images indicates a multifractal structure with the dimensions - box-counting dimension D0 (1.72), information dimension D1 (1.66), and correlation dimension D2 (1.63) - preserved upon exfoliation. The process of ultra-sonication assisted liquid phase exfoliation resembles blooming as if the carbon allotropes are efflorescent.