Preparation of expandable graphite with ultrasound irradiation

This article reports a new way to prepare expandable graphite with ultrasound irradiation. Flake graphite mixture and ultrasonic solvent were placed into a flask in the ultrasonic cleaning bath (nominal power of 500 W and 250 W) at room temperature. Ultrasonic time kept 60 min. After ultrasound irradiation, the expandable graphite was expanded at 900 degrees C to obtain the expanded graphite. The process of ultrasound irradiation is different from both electrochemistry intercalation and chemistry oxidation intercalation, but the properties of expandable graphite are similar. X-ray diffraction patterns are used to analyze the structure and confirm that the expandable graphite has been prepared. Scanning electron microscope images show the structure of expandable graphite and the existence of expanded graphite. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.