An ionic liquid-assisted method for splitting carbon nanotubes to produce graphene nano-ribbons by microwave radiation

An ionic liquid-assisted splitting method for the production of graphene nano-ribbons from multi-wall or single wall carbon nanotubes was developed using microwave irradiation as an external energy source. Graphene nano-ribbons with a high aspect ratio can be produced by the ionic liquid assisted splitting action under microwave radiation. The technique involves neither oxidation with strong acids nor reduction with hydrazine and is a fast, simple, one-step procedure. Also, the present method can be extended to split and expand tubular graphite nanofibers. Our simple approach will make a new route for splitting carbon nanomaterials to form graphene nanoribbions in the hundred nanometers.