Thermal Properties, Raman Spectroscopy and Tem Images of Neutron-Bombarded Graphite

Neutron-irradiated graphite to a total dose of 3.6 × 1016 n cm-2 was studied by DSC, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Wigner energy of neutron-irradiated graphite was 9.5 J/g as measured by DSC; it was released with an exothermal peak at 220oC. The Raman spectroscopy has confirmed the expected effect caused by neutron irradiation of the graphite substrate. The TEM imaging has shown that neutron-irradiated graphite can be effectively exfoliated by sonication in comparison to pristine graphite, which under similar conditions does not exfoliate at all. The interstitial Frenkel defects in neutron-irradiated graphite are intercalated between the graphene layers of the graphite and favor the exfoliation under adequate conditions.