Patent
US 9,272,911PRODUCTION OF GRAPHENE NANORIBBONS WITH CONTROLLED DIMENSIONS AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC ORIENTATION
Vikas Berry, Nihar Mohanty, David S. Moore
2016-03-01·US
Copyright © 2026 Matter42. All rights reserved.
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 9,272,911Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of producing a plurality of graphene particulates comprising: providing a source of graphite and determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite; using the determined crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite to determine a cutting angle for said source of graphite; cutting a plurality of graphite blocks from said source of graphite utilizing a cutting mechanism, said source of graphite being oriented relative to said cutting mechanism such that said cutting mechanism cuts said source of graphite at said cutting angle, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 100 nm; and exposing said plurality of graphite blocks to an acid and causing said graphite blocks to exfoliate into a plurality of substantially uniform, electrically semiconductive graphene particulates having an armchair edge crystallographic orientation and a band gap, said cutting angle being set step further comprising cutting said source of graphite at an angle that is selected based upon said step of determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite so as to provide said graphene particulates having said armchair edge crystallographic orientation upon exfoliation of said graphite blocks.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphite blocks are cut from a source of graphite using cutting mechanism is an ultramicrotome.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said source of graphite comprises highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG).
The method according to claim 15, wherein said acid is a superacid.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 50 nm.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene nanoribbons.
(Withdrawn-Previously Presented) The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene quantum dots. withdrawn
The method according to claim 15, wherein at least 90% of said graphene particulates have widths within ± 3 nm from the mean width of said plurality of graphene particulates.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks are cut in the shape of a wedge.
canceled
canceled
-7- canceled
Embodiments described in the patent, grouped by the materials and process steps they use.
3 materials1 process step
A 7x7x1 mm HOPG block (AB stacking, Grade 2, SPI Inc.) was affixed onto hardened araldite resin using cyanoacrylate adhesive and mounted on a nanotome (PT-XL Microtome, Boeckeler Instruments). The HOPG block was aligned with an ultra-sharp diamond knife (DuPont Inc., 45° included angle) at a 5° clearance angle, 40° rake angle, and specific orientation angle Ov=0°. The block was cleaved repeatedly to obtain graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) dispersed in water. GNB dispersion was heated at 100°C under UHP argon (20 psi) for 1 hour to evaporate water and obtain dry GNBs. The thinnest ribbons produced had a width of 5 nm. Adjusting the orientation angle Ov by 30° changes GNR edge structure between zigzag and armchair.
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphite blocks
graphene particulates
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
minimum GNR width achieved | 5 nm | graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) |
Thickness |
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 9,272,911Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of producing a plurality of graphene particulates comprising: providing a source of graphite and determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite; using the determined crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite to determine a cutting angle for said source of graphite; cutting a plurality of graphite blocks from said source of graphite utilizing a cutting mechanism, said source of graphite being oriented relative to said cutting mechanism such that said cutting mechanism cuts said source of graphite at said cutting angle, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 100 nm; and exposing said plurality of graphite blocks to an acid and causing said graphite blocks to exfoliate into a plurality of substantially uniform, electrically semiconductive graphene particulates having an armchair edge crystallographic orientation and a band gap, said cutting angle being set step further comprising cutting said source of graphite at an angle that is selected based upon said step of determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite so as to provide said graphene particulates having said armchair edge crystallographic orientation upon exfoliation of said graphite blocks.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphite blocks are cut from a source of graphite using cutting mechanism is an ultramicrotome.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said source of graphite comprises highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG).
The method according to claim 15, wherein said acid is a superacid.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 50 nm.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene nanoribbons.
(Withdrawn-Previously Presented) The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene quantum dots. withdrawn
The method according to claim 15, wherein at least 90% of said graphene particulates have widths within ± 3 nm from the mean width of said plurality of graphene particulates.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks are cut in the shape of a wedge.
canceled
canceled
-7- canceled
Embodiments described in the patent, grouped by the materials and process steps they use.
3 materials1 process step
A 7x7x1 mm HOPG block (AB stacking, Grade 2, SPI Inc.) was affixed onto hardened araldite resin using cyanoacrylate adhesive and mounted on a nanotome (PT-XL Microtome, Boeckeler Instruments). The HOPG block was aligned with an ultra-sharp diamond knife (DuPont Inc., 45° included angle) at a 5° clearance angle, 40° rake angle, and specific orientation angle Ov=0°. The block was cleaved repeatedly to obtain graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) dispersed in water. GNB dispersion was heated at 100°C under UHP argon (20 psi) for 1 hour to evaporate water and obtain dry GNBs. The thinnest ribbons produced had a width of 5 nm. Adjusting the orientation angle Ov by 30° changes GNR edge structure between zigzag and armchair.
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphite blocks
graphene particulates
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
minimum GNR width achieved | 5 nm | graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) |
Thickness |
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 9,272,911Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of producing a plurality of graphene particulates comprising: providing a source of graphite and determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite; using the determined crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite to determine a cutting angle for said source of graphite; cutting a plurality of graphite blocks from said source of graphite utilizing a cutting mechanism, said source of graphite being oriented relative to said cutting mechanism such that said cutting mechanism cuts said source of graphite at said cutting angle, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 100 nm; and exposing said plurality of graphite blocks to an acid and causing said graphite blocks to exfoliate into a plurality of substantially uniform, electrically semiconductive graphene particulates having an armchair edge crystallographic orientation and a band gap, said cutting angle being set step further comprising cutting said source of graphite at an angle that is selected based upon said step of determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite so as to provide said graphene particulates having said armchair edge crystallographic orientation upon exfoliation of said graphite blocks.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphite blocks are cut from a source of graphite using cutting mechanism is an ultramicrotome.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said source of graphite comprises highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG).
The method according to claim 15, wherein said acid is a superacid.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 50 nm.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene nanoribbons.
(Withdrawn-Previously Presented) The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene quantum dots. withdrawn
The method according to claim 15, wherein at least 90% of said graphene particulates have widths within ± 3 nm from the mean width of said plurality of graphene particulates.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks are cut in the shape of a wedge.
canceled
canceled
-7- canceled
Embodiments described in the patent, grouped by the materials and process steps they use.
3 materials1 process step
A 7x7x1 mm HOPG block (AB stacking, Grade 2, SPI Inc.) was affixed onto hardened araldite resin using cyanoacrylate adhesive and mounted on a nanotome (PT-XL Microtome, Boeckeler Instruments). The HOPG block was aligned with an ultra-sharp diamond knife (DuPont Inc., 45° included angle) at a 5° clearance angle, 40° rake angle, and specific orientation angle Ov=0°. The block was cleaved repeatedly to obtain graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) dispersed in water. GNB dispersion was heated at 100°C under UHP argon (20 psi) for 1 hour to evaporate water and obtain dry GNBs. The thinnest ribbons produced had a width of 5 nm. Adjusting the orientation angle Ov by 30° changes GNR edge structure between zigzag and armchair.
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphite blocks
graphene particulates
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
minimum GNR width achieved | 5 nm | graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) |
Thickness |
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 9,272,911Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of producing a plurality of graphene particulates comprising: providing a source of graphite and determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite; using the determined crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite to determine a cutting angle for said source of graphite; cutting a plurality of graphite blocks from said source of graphite utilizing a cutting mechanism, said source of graphite being oriented relative to said cutting mechanism such that said cutting mechanism cuts said source of graphite at said cutting angle, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 100 nm; and exposing said plurality of graphite blocks to an acid and causing said graphite blocks to exfoliate into a plurality of substantially uniform, electrically semiconductive graphene particulates having an armchair edge crystallographic orientation and a band gap, said cutting angle being set step further comprising cutting said source of graphite at an angle that is selected based upon said step of determining the crystallographic orientation of said source of graphite so as to provide said graphene particulates having said armchair edge crystallographic orientation upon exfoliation of said graphite blocks.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphite blocks are cut from a source of graphite using cutting mechanism is an ultramicrotome.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said source of graphite comprises highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG).
The method according to claim 15, wherein said acid is a superacid.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks have at least one dimension of less than 50 nm.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene nanoribbons.
(Withdrawn-Previously Presented) The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of graphene particulates is in the form of graphene quantum dots. withdrawn
The method according to claim 15, wherein at least 90% of said graphene particulates have widths within ± 3 nm from the mean width of said plurality of graphene particulates.
The method according to claim 15, wherein said graphite blocks are cut in the shape of a wedge.
canceled
canceled
-7- canceled
Embodiments described in the patent, grouped by the materials and process steps they use.
3 materials1 process step
A 7x7x1 mm HOPG block (AB stacking, Grade 2, SPI Inc.) was affixed onto hardened araldite resin using cyanoacrylate adhesive and mounted on a nanotome (PT-XL Microtome, Boeckeler Instruments). The HOPG block was aligned with an ultra-sharp diamond knife (DuPont Inc., 45° included angle) at a 5° clearance angle, 40° rake angle, and specific orientation angle Ov=0°. The block was cleaved repeatedly to obtain graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) dispersed in water. GNB dispersion was heated at 100°C under UHP argon (20 psi) for 1 hour to evaporate water and obtain dry GNBs. The thinnest ribbons produced had a width of 5 nm. Adjusting the orientation angle Ov by 30° changes GNR edge structure between zigzag and armchair.
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphite blocks
graphene particulates
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
minimum GNR width achieved | 5 nm | graphene nanoblocks (GNBs) |
Thickness |
graphene nanoribbons
superacid
chlorosulfonic acid
ClSO₃H
sulfuric acid
H₂SO₄
graphene quantum dots
| 1–5 nm |
| — |
Thickness | ≤ 1 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 50 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 10 nm | — |
graphene nanoribbons
superacid
chlorosulfonic acid
ClSO₃H
sulfuric acid
H₂SO₄
graphene quantum dots
| 1–5 nm |
| — |
Thickness | ≤ 1 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 50 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 10 nm | — |
graphene nanoribbons
superacid
chlorosulfonic acid
ClSO₃H
sulfuric acid
H₂SO₄
graphene quantum dots
| 1–5 nm |
| — |
Thickness | ≤ 1 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 50 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 10 nm | — |
graphene nanoribbons
superacid
chlorosulfonic acid
ClSO₃H
sulfuric acid
H₂SO₄
graphene quantum dots
| 1–5 nm |
| — |
Thickness | ≤ 1 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 50 nm | — |
Thickness | ≤ 10 nm | — |