Resumen: The layer stacking morphology in nanocarbons is paramount for achieving new properties and outperforming applications. Here, we demonstrate that graphene quantum dots (GQDs) retain crystallinity and a stacking structure from CVD graphene grown on Ni foam. Our results reveal that GQD subdomains comprise a few-layer graphene structure in the AB···AB and ABC···ABC stacking configuration. HR-TEM images along with a multiple-approach characterization (XRD, XPS, UV–vis, AFM, and ATR-IR) exhibit ∼3.0 to ∼8.0 nm crystalline GQDs with 2–6 graphene layers thick indicating a disk-shape structure. The UV–vis profiles show changes in color of the dispersion (from colorless to red) during and after the electrochemistry, suggesting a systematic electrooxidation of graphene into smaller, highly crystalline, and more complex sp2/sp3 structures. Importantly, a control experiment performed under the same conditions but with a graphitic rod exhibited large, polydisperse, and multilayer carbon structures. This work demonstrates a relatively easy electrochemical synthesis to obtain GQDs which retain the pristine and, in turn, distinctive structure of graphene grown on Ni foam. Idioma: Inglés DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c06871 Año: 2024 Publicado en: Journal of physical chemistry. C. 128, 3 (2024), 1393-1403 ISSN: 1932-7447 Factor impacto JCR: 3.2 (2024) Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL rank: 95 / 185 = 0.514 (2024) - Q3 - T2 Categ. JCR: NANOSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOGY rank: 88 / 147 = 0.599 (2024) - Q3 - T2 Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 237 / 460 = 0.515 (2024) - Q3 - T2 Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.914 - Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (Q1) - Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials (Q1) - Surfaces, Coatings and Films (Q1) - Energy (miscellaneous) (Q2) - Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Q2)