Solution-based production of graphene nano-platelets containing extremely low amounts of heteroatoms

•Highly carbon-pure graphene-based nano-platelets were produced using a solution process.•Ammonia borane showed excellent ability to reduce graphene oxide.•Resulting materials showed a very high electrical conductivity.

We developed a new route for scalable production of graphene-based nano-platelets containing extremely low amounts of heteroatoms via treatment of graphene oxide suspensions with ammonia borane at low temperatures without further thermal annealing. The C/O atomic ratio measured by combustion-based elemental analysis is the highest value among published data on graphene-based nano-platelets using solution processes. Resulting materials showed a very high electrical conductivity.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide