▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Preparing a vertical branched graphene comprises: either treating a pristine vertical graphene with an inert plasma in the absence of an introduced carbon source to develop a vertical branched graphene; or (a) pre-treating a substrate surface with an inert plasma, (b) depositing a pristine vertical graphene onto the substrate surface by contacting the substrate surface with a deposition plasma comprising a carbon source gas for a deposition period and (c) treating the vertical graphene with an inert plasma in the absence of an introduced carbon source to develop a vertical branched graphene with vertical branched graphene structure. The vertical branched graphene is argon plasma. The carbon source gas is methane. USE - The method is useful for preparing a vertical branched graphene and freestanding branched graphene, which is useful in a catalyst support in an electrocatalytic process, hydrogen or oxygen production, in the production of a liquid carbon product, in the production of at least one of n-propanol, ethanol or formate formed from the reduction of carbon dioxide and in an energy storage device e.g. a battery or a supercapacitor (all claimed). ADVANTAGE - The method provides the vertical graphene that exhibit desirable controllable electronic, optical and mechanical properties. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for: (1) a vertical branched graphene attached to a substrate surface; (2) a freestanding branched graphene with proximal end and a distal end; and (3) a catalyst support.