Preparation Of Graphene Encapsulated Metallic Copper Nanocomposite And Its Electrocatalytic Activity In P-Nitrophenol Aqueous Solution

Graphene encapsulated metal nanocomposites habe long attracted interest because of their unique microstructures and fascinating physical and chemical properties as well as their great potential applications in many fields of modern science and technology. In this thesis, we introduce the preparation of graphen encapsulated copper nanoparticles composites (GECNC) from natural graphite flakes (NGF). A simplified technique procedure for avoiding rigorous experimental conditions was employed to process the natural mineral materials deeply with less energy consumption and high productivity. Apart from the preparation procedures, the microstructures and formation mechanism of GECNC were systematically studied, and the electrochemical properties were finally tested in p-nitrophenol aqueous solution. The major tasks of the research, therefore, include the preparation of CuCl₂- graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), preparation of GECNC by reduction of GICs precursor, and characterization of electrochemical properties.Exfoliate graphite (EG) was obtained by heating the acidification graphite, which was prepared from the starting material NGF in the concentrated sulfuric acid containing nitric acid as the oxidant at room temperature with the following washing and drying. Anhydrous CuCl₂ containing ultrafhin graphite (0.1-1μm in diameter) was obtained by milling the mixture of CuCl₂ and EG. By thoroughly investigating the principal technique parameters that influence the stage structures of GICs product, we find out that the randomness of reagent content by volume is the chief factor to impact the instability of product component for the conventional molten salt method synthesis techniques of GICs. Hence, the conventional technique parameters were modified and a new reactor was designed accordingly. The final technique procedure is much simple but more efficient than the conventional one. The component and structures of the GICs product become more controllable in the new reactor. By adjusting the ratio of C/CuCl₂ and reaction temperature, a large quantity of pure stage structure GICs with stage-(1-3) is available in a very short period of...