  We offer a brief overview of the solvent-based graphene production and
summarize the current knowledge on the formation mechanism of graphite oxide
that proceeds via graphite intercalation compounds. In addition, the results of
our in situ X-ray diffraction investigation into this process are presented,
discussed and contrasted to the findings by other authors, who employed the
same oxidation protocol but examined the samples by ex situ X-ray diffraction.
Our results suggest that, contrary to the numerous reports by other authors, no
strong crystalline order, unique to graphite intercalation compounds as well as
graphite oxide, develops if they remain in concentrated acid. Furthermore, it
also appears that, depending on the concentration, sulfuric acid molecules
significantly weaken graphene-graphene interactions in graphite. Consequently,
concentrated sulfuric acid may be a good solvent for graphene dispersions, if
only there is sufficient energy input to separate the layers of graphene.
