Abstract: A process for the transformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to nanoribbons composed of a few layers of graphene by an electrochemical approach involving dispersing CNTs by sonication and depositing onto a conducting substrate, and oxidizing CNTs at controlled potential, followed by reduction to form graphene nanoribbons having smooth edges and fewer defects.

Abstract: A process for the transformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to nanoribbons composed of a few layers of graphene by a two-step electrochemical approach is disclosed in this invention. This consists of the oxidation of CNTs at controlled potential, followed by reduction to form graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) having smooth edges and fewer defects, as evidenced by multiple characterization techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, atomic force micro-scopy, and transmission electron microscopy. This type of ‘unzipping” of CNTs (single-walled, multi-walled) in the presence of an interfacial electric field provides unique advantages with respect to the orientation of CNTs, which might make possible the production of GNRs with controlled widths and fewer defects. The extent of oxidation was confirmed by various characterization techniques like XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. In the second step of experiments, the CNT oxide were reduced for different periods such as 4, 8, 12 hours at fixed negative potentials of ?0.