A simple method to determine the surface energy of graphite

Graphite is a material condensed from aromatic hydrocarbon that forms an infinite plane that exhibits an amphoteric feature. Structurally, a number of benzene rings form a solid planar sheet. A number of layers are formed from numerous unit cells, a so-called grapheme. A graphene sheet has an electron structure, which expands π-electrons into a two dimensional space. Graphite has AB-stacked bilayers of graphene. Because the interaction between two sheets is weak, their electronic structure may vary significantly. In addition, because graphite has either zero-semiconductor electronic structures, or a semi-metal electronic structure, its ionization energy is 4 eV [1] and it has dual electronic characteristics. Thus, it may work as either an oxidizer or reducer. In particular, the shape of the graphite plays an important role in its mechanical characterization [2]. Graphene, in its role as a unit cell of graphite, is known to have great potential for applications in many fields [3]. It is critical to understand graphite’s interfacial interaction with a matrix, or its wettability, when applying its electrically and thermally conductive properties to characteristic composites.