Structural Modification of Graphene Sheets to Create a Dense Network of Defect Sites

Pt/graphene composites were synthesized by loading platinum nanoparticles onto graphene and etched at 1000 °C in a hydrogen atmosphere. This results in the formation of a dense array of nanostructured defect sites in the graphene, including trenches, nanoribbons, islands, and holes. These defect sites result in an increase in the number of unsaturated carbon atoms and, consequently, enhance the interaction of the CO₂ molecules with the etched graphene. This leads to a high capacity for storing CO₂; 1 g of the etched samples can store up to 76.3 cm³ of CO₂ at 273 K under ambient pressure. © 2013 American Chemical Society.