Oxidized graphite and carbon fiber

Abstract

A mechanochemical oxidation process that allows relatively benign oxidizers to be used for the production of at least partially oxidized graphite, and a method of preparing a carbon fiber using oxidized graphite and a fiber component. Partially oxidized graphite is fully dispersible in water and can be used to prepare thin films with conductivities rivaling pure graphite. This offers the potential for improved electronic displays, solar cells, and lithium ion batteries. A carbon nanotube and a method of making the same is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing a carbon fiber, comprising:
 combining a fiber component and oxidized graphite thereby forming a fiber combination; and   subjecting the fiber combination to heat and a reducing atmosphere as to reduce said oxidized graphite to graphene, thereby forming a carbon fiber covered in graphene.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reducing atmosphere is hydrogen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat causes the fiber to shrink. 
     
     
         4 . A method for preparing a carbon fiber, comprising:
 milling graphite powder directly with a solid oxidizing agent to produce oxidized graphite;   subjecting a fiber component to the oxidized graphite, wherein said oxidized graphite binds to the fiber component; and   introducing the oxidized graphite-bound fiber component to pyrolysis and a reducing atmosphere, wherein the oxidized graphite is reduced to graphene.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein following the milling step, the oxidized graphite is suspended in water to form a colloidal suspension. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the reducing atmosphere is a hydrogen atmosphere. 
     
     
         7 . A carbon fiber covered in graphene as produced from the method of  claim 4 , wherein said carbon fiber exhibits an increased electrical conductivity as compared to that formed by a Hummers method and comprises a resistivity of 50 Ω/cm 2 -8000 Ω/cm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The carbon fiber of  claim 7 , wherein said carbon fiber comprises a resistivity of 50 Ω/cm 2 -1000 Ω/cm 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The carbon fiber of  claim 7 , wherein said carbon fiber comprises an increased tensile strength as compared to uncoated fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The carbon fiber of  claim 7 , wherein said fiber component comprises rayon. 
     
     
         11 . The carbon fiber of  claim 7  wherein said fiber component comprises PVA, nylon, cotton or polycarbonate. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a carbon nanotube, comprising:
 combining a fiber component and oxidized graphite thereby forming a fiber combination;   subjecting the fiber combination to heat in a reducing atmosphere, so as to reduce said oxidized graphite thereby forming carbon fiber covered in graphene; and   heating carbon fiber covered in graphene further in an oxidizing environment, under temperature and time conditions so as to remove the fiber component or convert the fiber component into amorphous carbon, thereby forming a carbon nanotube.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fiber component is vaporized. 
     
     
         14 . A carbon nanotube formed by the method of  claim 12 .