Electrochemical synthesis of graphite nanorings under UV irradiation.

• Electrochemical synthesis of graphite nanorings under UV irradiation. • PL spectra shows strong optical emission in the visible region (350–700 nm). • UV irradiation can reduce the particles size. • UV irradiation has a reduction effect on graphite synthesis. This paper describes a new way to synthesize graphite nanoparticles based on UV-irradiation energy. Graphite rods are electrochemically exfoliated at 80 °C in the presence of low potential difference (70 V) under UV irradiation. The obtained nanostructures are in the form of nanofibers and nanorings. They are studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL). PL spectra typically shows strong luminescence in the visible region (350–700 nm) and the most important emission is observed at 320 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]