Erratum: Role of solubility parameters in understanding the steric stabilization of exfoliated two-dimensional nanosheets by adsorbed polymers (Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2012) 116:20 (11393-11400) DOI: 10.1021/jp302365w)

The article presents correction to the role of solubility parameters in understanding the steric stabilization of exfoliated two-dimensional nanosheets by adsorbed polymers. When researchers realized the mistake, they wondered as to the cause of the disagreement between the model prediction and the experimental data. They quickly realized that one source of error related to the sample preparation. Reseachers used reaggregated, previously exfoliated, graphene as a starting material. Such material is usually prepared by filtering a dispersion of exfoliated graphene in a solvent such as NMP through a porous membrane. The composite dispersions in this part of the study were prepared by sonicating graphite in solutions of polystyrene (PS) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Preliminary tests show such reaggregated graphene to be very easily redispersed in appropriate liquids without excessive sonication, even when prepared with water. The powder must be dried exceptionally well. The presence of residual water can destabilize subsequently prepared dispersions.