Impact of ultrasonic probe type, frequency, and static pressure on large-scale graphene exfoliation

The ultrasonic liquid phase exfoliation method has emerged as an essential research direction for graphene preparation due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to minimize defects. However, this method faces challenges related to processing throughput when scaled up for industrial production. In this study, industrial grade ultrasonic homogenizers with different frequencies and probe types were evaluated for the preparation of FLG. In each experiment, 1.5 kg of graphite slurry was treated using a cyclic ultrasonic system. The results demonstrated that the 25 kHz dumbbell probe produced the thinnest FLG with the lowest defect density. Moreover, applying a static pressure of 0.2 MPa in the cycle system enhanced the cavitation-induced exfoliation of graphite sheets, effectively reducing the layer count and distribution range of FLG. This method improves the conductivity while minimizing defect density.