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 220°C. 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