Yes, it is possible to mechanically "squeeze" graphite into graphene through a process known as mechanical exfoliation or the Scotch tape method. This technique was first developed by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for their work on graphene.
The process involves taking a piece of graphite, which is made up of layers of graphene stacked together, and repeatedly peeling off thin layers using adhesive tape. By applying the tape to the graphite and then peeling it off, some layers of graphene can be separated and transferred onto a substrate.
This method relies on the weak van der Waals forces between the layers of graphene in graphite. When the tape is peeled off, it can break these interlayer forces and extract individual layers of graphene. However, it is important to note that this technique is time-consuming and produces small amounts of graphene.
Since the discovery of the Scotch tape method, several other methods have been developed to produce graphene, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and epitaxial growth on silicon carbide (SiC). These techniques allow for the production of larger quantities of graphene, but they are more complex and require specialized equipment.