Graphene is an interesting material, but making enough of the stuff to do something useful can be a little tough. That’s why we’re always on the lookout for new methods, like this electrochemical process for producing graphene in bulk.

You probably know that graphene is a molecular monolayer of carbon atoms linked in hexagonal arrays. Getting to that monolayer is a difficult proposition, but useful bits of graphene can be created by various mechanical and chemical treatments of common graphite. [The Thought Emporium]’s approach to harvesting graphene from graphite is a two-step process starting with electrochemical exfoliation. Strips of thin graphite foil are electrolyzed in a bath of ferrous sulfate, resulting in the graphite delaminating and flaking off into the electrolyte. After filtering and cleaning, the almost graphene is further exfoliated in an ultrasonic cleaner. The result is gram quantity yields with very little work and at low cost.

There’s plenty of effort going into new methods of creating graphene these days, whether by barely controlled explosions or superheating soybean oil. But will graphene be the Next Big Thing? The jury is still out on that.

i would be extremely surprised if there isn’t any oxidation of the carbon during this process, leading to something between graphene and graphene-oxide.

There is some degree of oxidation, but very mild!

Perhaps the iron ions prevent oxidation of the carbon as they have a greater difference in electronegativity with oxygen than does carbon

Have tried a few methods towards graphene. Most yield stuff that can be used here and there. But the ultimate trick to pull off is a sheet of free standing mono layer, and you might get a Nobel.

How sticky tape trick led to Nobel Prize – BBC News

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-11478645

D.I.Y. Graphene: How to Make One-Atom-Thick Carbon Layers With Sticky Tape

https://www.scientificamerican.com/slideshow/diy-graphene-how-to-make-carbon-layers-with-sticky-tape/

I think what Ad Correya means is a usable sheet of graphene. Something like an A4 sized sheet or a continuous sheet

too much surface energy to have a freestanding monolayer.

Actually you dont get a single particle, but many!

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