Rolling up a Graphene Sheet

Carbon Nanotubes, CNTs, have been described as rolled-up graphene layers. Matching this concept to experiments has been a great experimental challenge for it requires a method to exfoliate graphite, generate ordered and stable dangling carbon bonds, and roll up the layer without affecting the unpaired electrons of the dangling bonds that finally have to zip up in an orderly fashion: A tall order for any synthetic strategy. The combined use of ultrasonication of graphite in dimethylformamide and addition of ferrocene aldehyde just does it!