Structure and Paramagnetic Properties of Graphene Nanoplatelets Prepared from Biopolymers Using Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis

Abstract

We propose a novel approach to prepare graphene nanoplatelets from cyclic biopolymers using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The synthesized graphene nanoplatelets have micrometer-scale linear sizes and extended specific surface areas (up to 620 m 2 /g). The number of nanoplatelets in a stack does not exceed five. The number of structural defects can be estimated by estimating the concentration of paramagnetic spins in graphene nanoplatelets using the EPR method. The properties of synthesized graphene nanoplatelets make them possibly applicable to be used as sorbents.