Kim GR  Kwak YW  Jun HY  Choi CH

Vol. 28,  No. 4, pp. 293-300, Dec.  2022
10.7464/ksct.2022.28.4.293

Natural graphite Liquid-phase exfoliation Graphene ink Printed electronics

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The remarkable mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of graphene have recently sparked tremendous interest in various research fields. One of the most promising methods to produce large quantities of graphene dispersion is liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) which utilizes ultrasonic waves or shear stresses to exfoliate bulk graphite into graphene flakes that are a few layers thick. Graphene dispersion produced via LPE can be transformed into graphene ink to further boost graphene’s applications, but producing high-quality graphene more economically remains a challenge. To overcome this shortcoming, an advanced LPE process should be developed that uses relatively cheap natural graphite as a graphene source. In this study, a flow-LPE process was used to exfoliate natural graphite to produce graphene that was three times cheaper and seven times larger than synthetic graphite. The optimal exfoliation conditions in the flow-LPE process were determined in order to produce high-quality graphene flakes. In addition, the structural and electrical properties of the flakes were characterized. The electrical properties of the exfoliated graphene were investigated by carrying out an ink formulation process to prepare graphene ink suitable for inkjet printing, and fabricating a printed graphene pattern. By utilizing natural graphite, this study offers a potential protocol for graphene production, ink formulation, and printed graphene devices in a more industrial-comparable manner.