US 12,060,274 B2 · Graphite materials, and methods for fabricating and use thereof

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) act as a dispersing agent to directly exfoliate graphite in an aqueous solution using sonication. The resulting suspension has graphite flakes, each having 2-20 monolayers, a relatively large lateral dimension, and a plurality of CNF decorating its surfaces and edges. The dispersing effect of the CNF allows the graphite-CNF suspension to be stored without degradation until desired use. The graphite-CNF suspension can be used to form various composite structures, such as by spraying, coating, pouring, extruding, or printing the suspension, and then drying the suspension. The resulting composite structures have improved tensile strength and toughness due to hydrogen bond interactions between the CNF and graphite.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

forming a suspension or colloid by combining graphite and cellulose nanofibers in a solvent;
and
after the forming the suspension or colloid, forming a composite material from the suspension or colloid,
wherein the suspension or colloid comprises a plurality of graphite flakes, each graphite flake has a plurality of fibrils attached to respective surfaces of the graphite flake, and the fibrils are the cellulose nanofibers, and
wherein the forming the composite material comprises:
providing a preliminary structure formed by the suspension or colloid;
cooling the preliminary structure such that a first solvent of the suspension or colloid freezes;
and
freeze-drying the preliminary structure such that the frozen first solvent sublimes, thereby forming the composite material with pores between the graphite flakes.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Graphite materials, and methods for fabricating and use thereof

Life of this patent

Graphite materials, and methods for fabricating and use thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16