Physicochemicaland electrochemical study of xylitol assisted ball milled graphite

Muhammad Azam, Nur Syahirah Najibah (2026) Physicochemicaland electrochemical study of xylitol assisted ball milled graphite. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

Text S34180 - NUR SYAHIRAH NAJIBAH BINTI MUHAMMAD AZAM.pdf Download (2MB)

Abstract

Graphene has attracted significant attention as an effective electrode material for energy storage applications due to its exceptional electrical conductivity, high surface area, and excellent mechanical stability. However, the large-scale production of high-quality graphene remains challenging, particularly due to issues such as restacking, structural damage, and the use of environmentally harmful chemicals in conventional synthesis methods. In this study, an environmentally friendly xylitol-assisted ball milling approach was employed to synthesize graphene nanosheets from graphite, and the effects of milling duration and graphite-to-xylitol ratio on the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the resulting materials were systematically investigated. Two graphite-to-xylitol ratios (1:7 and 1:10) and two milling durations (9 h and 12 h) were applied to evaluate their influence on exfoliation efficiency and electrochemical performance. The prepared samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) to examine surface functionalization, crystallinity, morphology, and elemental composition. Electrochemical performance was assessed using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in a three-electrode configuration. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful introduction of oxygen-containing functional groups, particularly hydroxyl and carbonyl species, in xylitol-assisted samples, improving surface wettability. XRD results showed peak broadening and downward shifts of the (002) reflection, indicating increased interlayer spacing and partial exfoliation into few-layer graphene. SEM observations revealed that xylitol-assisted samples had thin, sheet-like graphene structures with less agglomeration, while EDX analysis confirmed high carbon purity with controlled oxygen incorporation. Electrochemical results proved that xylitol-assisted samples exhibited superior capacitive behavior compared to graphite-only samples. Among all samples, R17 GX9H (graphite-to-xylitol ratio of 1:7, milled for 9 h) showed the highest specific capacitance of 8.78 F g−1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1 and the most favorable ion diffusion characteristics, as evidenced by its steep low-frequency slope in EIS analysis. In contrast, prolonged milling for 12 h led to partial restacking and structural compaction, resulting in reduced electrochemical performance. This study demonstrates that xylitol-assisted ball milling at an optimized ratio and moderate milling duration provides a sustainable and effective route for producing graphene nanosheets with enhanced electrochemical performance. The strong correlation between structural characteristics, surface chemistry, and electrochemical behavior confirms the potential of xylitol-assisted graphene as a promising electrode material for supercapacitor applications.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QD Chemistry
Faculty:	Faculty of Humanities, Management and Science
Depositing User:	Ms. Hairoon Juhaili
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2026 12:07
Last Modified:	20 Jul 2026 12:07
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2897

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