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A method to synthesize graphene materials using a DC high current divergent plasma torch has been developed. Carbon atoms were generated by the decomposition of propane-butane, methane and acetylene in a thermal plasma jet. The graphene materials were characterized by electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, Raman spectroscopy. The influence of the experimental conditions on the morphology and phase composition of the synthesis products was investigated. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of high-purity graphene flakes have been found.

Polystyrene films prepared by radical polymerization can conduct electric current in metal-polymer-metal structures with film thicknesses of up to 20 nanometers. Films of polystyrene and graphene oxide composite with thickness up to 3 micrometers, synthesized in similar conditions have the same electric properties. This effect is explained by presence of highly conductive graphene oxide inclusions in the dielectric polystyrene matrix.

We have studied the process of UV reduction of wrinkled grahpene oxide films, deposited on silicon substrate from ethanol suspension. In order to avoid destruction of graphene oxide via ozone formation from ambient air, samples were protected by argon atmosphere during UV irradiation. Using the analysis of back scattering spectra for medium energy ions, we have found that the UV irradiation mediated reduction process produced significantly decreased carbon content on the substrate surface. The decrease in the carbon content was accompanied by a smoothing of the films during reduction to graphene. We suppose that the observed effect is related to the oxidation of carbon atoms in the graphene scaffold of graphene oxide to carbon monoxide or dioxide by the oxygen from the graphene oxide (GO) itself. One has to consider this when developing a process for the preparation of graphene films using the UV-mediated reduction of graphene oxide.

This work reports the possibility of mixing metal oxides along with graphene and polymer to form Metal Oxide-Graphene-Polymer films. The metal oxides used in this work were lead Oxide (PbO) and tungsten oxide (WO3). Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is the polymer, which is used as matrix in preparation of these metal oxide and graphene mixed nanocomposite films. Metal Oxide-Graphene-PVDF films were developed using a chemical technique called solvent casting. The prepared films were characterized using techniques like FE-SEM, XRD and FT-IR to understand its morphological, crystalline and functional properties. I-V characteristics were analyzed using four-probe techniques. The developed Metal Oxide-Graphene-PVDF films have potential applications in a wide range of fields and particularly for electronic applications. The ability of these films to be used as electronic components in devices was explored.