Common dispersion methods
Micromechanical exfoliation method: Directly peel off graphene flakes from larger crystals using adhesive tape, repeating this process continuously. By rubbing a material against thermally expanded or defect-introduced pyrolytic graphite, flaky crystals containing monolayer graphene form on the surface of bulk graphite.
Disadvantages: Low yield of graphene, small area, difficult to precisely control size, low efficiency, unsuitable for large-scale production.
Chemical vapor deposition: involves introducing one or more carbon-containing gaseous substances (usually low-carbon organic gases) into a vacuum reactor, where high temperatures cause the carbon-containing gas to decompose and carbonize (typically low-carbon organic gases). This process leads to the growth of a carbon allotrope on the substrate surface.
Disadvantages: The hexagonal honeycomb crystal structure of graphene prevents it from being fully graphitized, resulting in lower quality compared to micromechanical exfoliation methods. High costs and stringent equipment requirements limit its large-scale production of graphene. Additionally, the need for catalysts reduces the purity of graphene.