How graphene is exfoliated from graphitic materials: synergistic effect of oxidation and intercalation processes in open, semi-closed, and closed carbon systems

Solution-based oxidation has been widely utilized to prepare graphene oxide or graphene nanoribbons from different carbon precursors, but some details of the exfoliation or unzipping processes still remain elusive. Here, we put forward three graphitic systems for deep understanding of the top-down route. Based on the oxidation-intercalation synergistic effect, the formation mechanisms were proposed.