Efficient preparation and characterization of graphene based on ball milling

Graphene has a unique two-dimensional crystal structure and excellent physical and chemical properties. It is one of the new strategic materials developed by countries around the world in the 21st century. In recent years, the method of preparing graphene by mechanical stripping is becoming mature, including oxidation reduction method, mechanical stripping method, SiC epitaxial growth method, chemical vapor deposition method, etc. Based on the ball milling method, graphene is prepared in this study using a uniform design test method, scaled graphite as the raw material, and metallic aluminum as the grinding aid while considering the influence of ball ratio, grinding time, and rotation rate. A mathematical model was established based on partial least squares regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis. The best experimental scheme was obtained through the selection and optimization of the mathematical model, and the process of efficiently preparing graphene in the laboratory was explored. The prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, automatic specific surface area and porosity analyzer, and laser confocal Raman spectrometer. The results indicate that using aluminum powder as a grinding aid can significantly improve the efficiency of ball milling, the specific surface area of graphene produced is 542.598 m2/g, with the number of layers ranging from 2 to 5 layers. It is proved that the proposed graphene preparation method can obtain graphene with better quality. The study's findings serve as a guide for the production of graphene.