▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Producing isolated graphene sheets from a supply of coke or coal powder containing in it domains of hexagonal carbon atoms and/or hexagonal carbon atomic interlayers with an interlayer spacing, comprises (a) dispersing particles of the coke or coal powder in a liquid medium containing in it an optional surfactant or dispersing agent to produce a suspension or slurry, and (b) exposing the suspension or slurry to ultrasonication at an energy level for a sufficient length of time to produce the isolated graphene sheets in the liquid medium. USE - The method is useful for producing isolated graphene sheets, which are useful in a composite material (all claimed). ADVANTAGE - The method: provides isolated graphene sheets having an average thickness smaller than 10 nm (preferably single-layer graphene or few-layer graphene) directly from the coke or coal powder having hexagonal carbon atomic interlayers or domains (graphene planes or graphene domains) with an interlayer spacing (inter-graphene plane spacing); is conducted under mild conditions, i.e. no high temperature, high pressure or high vacuum is required; is conducted intermittently or continuously; and provides large quantities of graphene materials in cost-effective manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Producing isolated graphene sheets from a supply of coke or coal powder containing in it domains of hexagonal carbon atoms and/or hexagonal carbon atomic interlayers with an interlayer spacing, comprises (a) dispersing particles of the coke or coal powder in a liquid medium containing in it an optional surfactant or dispersing agent to produce a suspension or slurry, where the coke or coal powder is petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, anthracite, lignite coal, bituminous coal and/or natural coal mineral powder, and (b) exposing the suspension or slurry to ultrasonication at an energy level for a sufficient length of time to produce the isolated graphene sheets in the liquid medium. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for: (1) a graphene-containing ink composition derived from coal or coke produced by the method; (2) a mass of isolated graphene sheets in a powder form produced by the method; and (3) a suspension containing isolated graphene sheets dispersed in a liquid medium produced by the method.