Direct delamination of graphite ore into defect-free graphene using a biphasic solvent system under pressurized ultrasound

The study reported herein describes for the first time a method for producing defect-free graphene directly from its mineral ore. This was achieved by treating graphite ore in an ionic liquid containing biphasic solvent system, applying pressurized intense cavitation ultrasound. Without any graphite ore pre-treatment, large few layer thick graphene sheets, as well as micrometric layered crumpled graphene structures, were produced. This opens new opportunities for the development of graphene-based technologies.