Aniline- and N,N-dimethylformamide-assisted processing route for graphite nanoplates: intercalation and exfoliation pathway

Aniline-intercalated graphite nanoplates (AGNPs) were synthesized directly from graphite via an intercalation and exfoliation pathway using aniline as the intercalating agent and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the exfoliating agent. Thus, the obtained AGNPs were dispersible in various organic solvents like ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform, and benzene. This process is convenient, readily scalable and eco-friendly. We found that π–π interactions and the charge transfer complex formation between aniline and graphite nanoplates (GNPs) are responsible for the dispersion of AGNPs in organic solvents. The formation of AGNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), Raman and UV–Visible spectroscopic measurements.