Interface-facilitated hydrothermal synthesis of sub-micrometre graphitic carbon plates

A novel interface-facilitated synthesis of metal-free graphitic carbon plates with controllable thickness is reported. In contrast to bulk phase synthesis of the conventional hydrothermal method, the process occurs only at the interface due to the enrichment of precursors induced by the organic intermediates, allowing the use of precursors at very low concentration and alleviating the environmental burden.