High Voltage Plasma Convert Coconut Shell Charcoal To Few Layer Wrinkled Graphene (FLwG)

Abstract

This research reveals the process of obtaining graphene nanosheets (GNs) by arc discharge with coconut shell (CS) charcoal as base material. The objective research is to convert the CS charcoal powder to graphene nanosheet. The research succeeds to obtain GNs that is few-layer wrinkled graphene (FLwG). FLwG has been produced by burning a coconut-shell-based charcoal by using a plasma arc discharge. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were implemented on analyzing of candidate graphene. The arc plasma was supplied in the air gap between the electrodes. The graphite rod was installed as an high voltage electrode and a ground electrode was made of aluminum material. The charcoal powder was put on a ground electrode surface in the air gap of 1.5 cm to the h.v. electrode. It is shown that the Raman spectroscopy analysis indicate an FLwG has been produced. TEM analysis confirms on the presence of FLwG with a wrinkled and folded structure as well. From FTIR analysis, It can be seen that in the FTIR spectrum of the candidate graphene is no significant change associated with the emergence of new characteristic peaks other than the absorption peaks present in the CS Charcoal.