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Simple method for producing graphene quantum dots in bulk quantities from coal
Rice University has a simple method for producing dots in bulk from coal, coke. The Rice lab of chemist James Tour found simple methods to reduce three kinds of coal into graphene quantum dots (GQDs), microscopic discs of atom-thick graphene oxide that could be used in medical imaging as well as sensing, electronic and photovoltaic applications.
Graphite is $2,000 a ton for the best there is, from the U.K.,” he said. “Cheaper graphite is $800 a ton from China. And coal is $10 to $60 a ton and they can get 20% yield of graphene quantum dots. The quantum dots range from 2 to 20 nanometers in size depending on the source of the coal.
So graphene quantum dots from coals are 200 to 15 times cheaper. They can be a couple of cents per kilogram or 1 cent per pound.
Nature Communications – Coal as an abundant source of graphene quantum dots
Source: http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/12/simple-method-for-producing-graphene.html
