Synthesis and physical properties of multi-layered graphene sheets by Arc-discharge method with TiO2 and ZnO catalytic

In this paper, a study to improve the structural properties of graphene synthesized by Arc discharge method with TiO2 and ZnO catalysts was studied. We have developed a method for synthesizing few layered graphene by arc- discharge in a mixture of graphite flake and different catalysts. In the presence of TiO2 and ZnO catalytic, growth mechanism is different from the mechanism of growth in the absence of catalysts. Two different growth mechanisms have been proposed. The catalytic growth mechanism that is a bottom to up approach and the exfoliation mechanism that is an up to bottom approach. Structural properties, morphology and functional groups of samples by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, UV-Vis, and Raman were analyzed. The results show that graphene sheets have been produced in all methods. This study showed that Arc- graphene synthesis with TiO2 as catalytic has the best structural properties. The obtained graphene nano-sheets showed the in-plane crystallite size from 35.6 nm to 53.6 nm. The results show that the AC arc-discharge method can be used for few-layer graphene sheet synthesis with flake graphite as a carbon source and TiO2 or ZnO as a catalyst.