Effect of CTAB concentration on the properties of graphene nanosheet produced by laser ablation

Effects of the concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on the properties of graphene nanosheets produced by laser ablation method in CTAB medium have been studied experimentally. The beam of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser of 1064 nm wavelength at 7 ns pulse width with 1.5 J/cm2 fluence was employed to irradiate the graphite target in different concentration of CTAB. Produced graphene nanosheets were diagnosed by UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, FTIR spectrum, X-ray diffraction pattern, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman scattering spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that CTAB is a very capable ablation medium for producing graphene and there is a critical concentration of CTAB for producing few layers graphene nanosheets.