Electrohydrodynamically formed structures of carbonaceous material

A method for the electrohydrodynamic deposition of carbonaceous materials, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an electrohydrodynamic cell comprising two electrodes positioned in a parallel orientation and separated by a defined space or gap, where each electrode is comprised of a conductive material having an outer surface;
• b. providing materials for a solid phase, comprising at least one carbonaceous material;
• c. providing materials for a suspension medium, comprising at least one of an organic liquid, water, ionic liquids, mixtures or solutions of organic liquids or water, and liquid phases of organic solids with melting temperatures higher than the standard room temperature, which act as solvent or suspension medium;
• d. forming a liquid-based suspension by combining the materials for the solid phase and the materials for the suspension medium, and agitating;
• e. placing the liquid-based suspension between the electrodes;
• f. applying an electrical field having a first direction between the electrodes to cause deposition on the electrode having a charge opposite that of the suspended material to be deposited;
• g. varying the intensity of the electric field sufficiently to drive the lateral movement of the sheets, stacks, graphitic particles, or mixtures of the same to form edge-to-edge aggregates;
• h. continue the process of deposition and lateral movement to build up layers of sheets, stacks, graphitic particles or mixtures of the same to reach a targeted thickness;
• i. increasing the electrical field to stop the lateral transport and fix the layers in place, forming a permanent layered structure;
• j. reducing the applied field to zero;
• and
• k. removing the electrodes from the electrohydrodynamic cell.