A Novel Method for the Determination of Graphite Exfoliation Degree

Background: Various methods are used to characterize the exfoliation degree of graphite to graphene, however they fail in time-consuming and inaccuracy. The aim of this paper is to develop an accurate and easily operated technique for the determination of the exfoliation degree of graphite in liquids. Methods: The exfoliation of graphite has been studied to relate with the change of suspension turbidities during its exfoliation into graphene. The study included a theoretical derivation based on the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye approximation and experimental approaches. Results: The number of fresh graphene flakes formed from the exfoliation is directly proportional to the ratio of suspension turbidity before and after the graphite particles are exfoliated. Conclusion: The exfoliation degree of graphite could be well characterized by the changes of the turbidity. This novel method would also be an effective and promising technique to determine the exfoliation degree of layered particles in liquids.