We have developed a convenient single-step method for producing stable nanographite dispersions from natural graphite in various solvents using high-power sonication. Nanographite dispersions in water are shown to be stable for several weeks, and aqueous nanographite dispersions containing a surfactant are stable for several months. Nanographite samples prepared from aqueous nanographite dispersions have been characterized by various physicochemical techniques (including X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy). Interference microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy have been used to examine the morphology and determine the size of nanographite particles. The nanographite platelets are 300–500 nm in lateral size and 20–40 nm in thickness, which corresponds to 30–50 graphene layers.

Zinc borates are widely used in industry due to their thermal stability as a flame retardant in the production of plastics, rubber, and other polymer compositions. We have developed a simple and effective approach for the synthesis of zinc borate powders with desired properties, including desired particle size, low bulk density, high reactivity, etc. Zinc borates were prepared by the thermal treatment of a concentrated water–carbohydrate solution of a zinc salt until finely dispersed ZnO was formed, followed by its hydrothermal treatment at 90–300 °C as part of a suspension based on a hot aqueous solution of H₃BO₃. According to X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and TG–DSC data, depending on the temperature of hydrothermal treatment, a decrease in the water content in the structure of synthesized zinc borate particles is observed. TEM and SEM data indicate the formation of isometrically shaped zinc borate particles in the nanometer range during hydrothermal treatment above 250 °C. Varying the temperature of the hydrothermal treatment affects the average size and fineness of the structure of the zinc borate particles.

We have developed a convenient single-step method for producing palladium nanoparticles on the surface of graphene oxide by reducing palladium chloride with NaBH₄. According to transmission electron microscopy data, palladium nanoparticles have a spheroidal shape; their sizes are 6–8 nm. The tests of immobilized palladium nanoparticles have shown that they exhibit high activity in the Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reaction.

A new method for obtaining platinum, palladium, and rhodium nanoparticles on graphene (G) flakes via the reduction of an intermediate nanocomposite on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) in...