Effect of Graphene on an Al–Mn Alloy-Based Composite Material: A Raman and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study

An aluminum–graphene composite material is produced using direct chemical interaction of two carbon-containing precursors (glucose, boron carbide) with a molten Al–Mn aluminum alloy matrix containing 1.22 wt % manganese in molten alkali metal halides. The structure and number of graphene layers in the Al–Mn alloy matrix are shown to depend on the type of precursor. Specifically, synthesis with glucose yields bilayer graphene, whereas synthesis with boron carbide yields trilayer graphene in the Al–Mn–graphene composite. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data, the oxide film thickness on the Al–Mn–graphene composite material is 3.3 nm. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of the aluminum alloy–graphene system have revealed the formation of double aluminum–manganese carbide AlMn3C for the first time.