Apparatus and method for exfoliating graphite
An apparatus and method to exfoliate a graphite grain is described. A mixture of a graphite grain and a fluid medium are transferred into a vessel. The vessel includes an agitator and a chiller. The chiller chills the mixture such that the fluid medium at least partially solidifies into an ice grain. The agitator agitates the mixture to induce a contact between the graphite grain and the ice grain. The contact between the graphite grain and the ice grain exfoliates the graphite grain.
1. A method to exfoliate a graphite grain, the method comprising:
transferring a mixture into a vessel,
wherein the mixture comprises a graphite grain and a fluid medium, and
wherein the vessel comprises an agitator and a chiller;
chilling the mixture by the chiller such that the fluid medium at least partially solidifies into an ice grain; and
agitating the mixture by the agitator to induce a contact between the graphite grain and the ice grain to exfoliate the graphite grain.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agitator comprises a rotor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agitator comprises a vibrator.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid medium comprises a first fluid.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first fluid comprises water.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid medium further comprises a second fluid.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second fluid comprises at least one of ethylene glycol, n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, isopropyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, or ethyl alcohol.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second fluid comprises at least one of air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, or carbon dioxide.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid medium further comprises a surfactant.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of a soap, an alkyl sulfate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, a lignosulfonate, or sodium cholate.