Abstract: The method for synthesizing graphene derivatives from asphaltene includes one or more steps that are based on thermal and/or chemical treatments. In the thermal treatment, asphaltene was carbonized in a rotating quartz-tube furnace under an inert atmosphere (N2). This carbonization process was performed at a temperature range of 400-950° C. The carbonization process converted asphaltene molecules into graphene derivatives by eliminating the alkyl side chains, exfoliating the aromatic layers (n), and expanding the aromatic sheet diameter (La). The chemical treatment, on the other hand, was performed on the asphaltene (i.e., graphene precursor) by dispersing the asphaltene molecules in a liquid intercalating agent to functionalize the asphaltene and expand the inter-layer distance between the aromatic sheets (intercalation). In this intercalation process, the graphitic surface of asphaltene is oxidized to form asphaltene oxide, and then graphene oxide (GO), which is a nonconductive hydrophilic carbon material.