Preparation of graphene sheets by the reduction of carbon monoxide

Graphene sheets were prepared by a synthesis method in which aluminum sulfide (Al2S3) was calcined under a mixed gas flow of carbon monoxide (CO) and argon. The reaction of CO with Al2S3 produced alpha-Al2O3 and graphene sheets. The graphene sheets were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. A reaction mechanism is proposed in which CO is reduced to gaseous carbon by the reaction with Al2S3 and the gaseous carbon crystallizes in the graphene sheets. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.