Template Synthesis of Graphene

A series of carbon-mineral composites with the carbon loading varying from 1.5 to 14.2 wt % has been synthesized by MgO carbonization in 1,3-butadiene at 600°C. The synthesized carbon-mineral composites have been studied by ESR, X-ray powder diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. ESR has demonstrated that the MgO surface is completely covered with carbon after depositing 8–10 wt % C. MgO from the composite was dissolved by treatment with hydrochloric acid. The surface area of the carbon samples obtained after the acid treatment has been studied by thermal desorption of argon. It has been shown that the synthesized carbon material consists of a few graphene layers. The specific surface area of the synthesized graphene passes through a maximum of about 1800–1900 m 2 /g for samples obtained from C–MgO composites containing 8–10 wt % C.