Catalytic Thermal Molecular Welding Method for Synthesizing Multi-Layer Nano-shell Structure-based Graphene Materials from Lignin Resources
Description:
Technology overview
A catalytic thermal molecular welding method for making graphene-based materials.
Background
There are several methods for making graphene-based materials, most notably the CVD process being the most promising method because it is inexpensive and produces large-area graphene. The CVD process is where the hydrocarbon-based gas is fed into a reactor and passes through a hot zone, where the hydrocarbon precursor decomposes to carbon radicals at the metal substrate surface and then forms single-layer or multi-layer graphene. The metal substrate works as a catalyst to lower the energy barrier of the reaction as well as determines the graphene deposition mechanism, which ultimately affects the quality of the graphene. The CVD process is limited to the use of gaseous species which makes it difficult to apply the technology to a wider variety of potential carbon precursors such as carbon-based solid materials.
Description of Technology
The present invention relates to processes, methods, and compositions for the preparation of multi-layer nano-shell structure-based graphene materials, in particular, the synthesis of multi-layer nano-shell structure-based graphene materials, in particular, the synthesis of multi-layer curved or flatten graphene sheets, multi-layer-nano-graphene shell connected chains, fluffy graphene, multi-layer graphene-encapsulated metal and metal carbide nanoparticles.
Processes, methods, and compositions are claimed for the catalytic thermal molecular welding synthesis of multi-layer nano-shell structure-based graphene materials, such as multi-layer curved or flatten graphic sheets, multi-layer nano-graphene shell connected chains, fluffy graphene, graphene-encapsulated metal or metal carbide nanoparticles, can be produced through altering fabrication conditions. The invention discloses methods and optimized process variables for preparation of catalyst-lignin precursors, pretreatment of precursors, a catalytic thermal carbonization, and a catalytic thermal molecular welding process of making multi-layer nano-shell structure-based graphene materials from lignin resources and post-purification.
Applications
This technology has a variety of capabilities for how it can be applied:
- providing electrode materials for supercapacitors, fuel cells, Li-ion batteries,
- catalysts for renewable chemical/fuel