Microwave-assisted synthesis and structural investigation of coal-derived few ayer graphene via a catalytic graphitization process

Title : Microwave-assisted synthesis and structural investigation of coal-derived few ayer graphene via a catalytic graphitization process

Abstract:

Few-layer graphene was synthesized via microwave-assisted catalytic graphitization due to its increasing demand and wide applications. The microwave irradiation temperature at a set holding time played a key role in synthesizing few-layer graphene. The highest degree of graphitization and a well-developed pore structure was fabricated at 1300 °C using a 10% iron catalyst for 20 min. A high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed that the fabricated few-layer graphene consisting of 2–7 layers. In addition, the 2D band at 2700 cm⁻¹ in the Raman spectrum indicated the presence of graphene layers. The Raman mapping also represented the catalyst loaded sample was homogeneously distributed and displayed a few-layer graphene sheet. The highest I_2D/I_G value indicated a few-layer graphene sheet. The few-layer graphene growth process was induced when iron oxide was reduced to metallic iron. The graphene nucleation and growth occurred via the dissolution-precipitation mechanism of bituminous coal and catalyst droplets. Finally, the synthesis of graphene using the traditional heating method takes around two weeks and over the higher temperature at 3000 °C.  While the microwave graphitization required only 20 min and was much faster than the traditional heating method, moreover, the few-layer graphene precursor, i.e. coal, was abundant and inexpensive material. This technique assists in developing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly few-layer fabrication method using a coal-based carbonaceous material.

Biography:

Faridul Islam obtained his Master's degree in Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology in 2008, Bangladesh. He is a researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia. He started his carrier as a Scientific Officer in Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Bangladesh, from 2010 to now. He has 11 years of research experience. His research is focused on the fabrication of few-layer graphene from coal-based carbon materials for energy storage. He studied the fundamental aspects of the few-layer graphene mechanism via catalytic graphitization under microwave heat treatment. Faridul's actively involved in many research projects of coal-derived advanced carbon nanomaterials for energy storage applications. He has published more than 25 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals.