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Large-Area Single-Crystal Graphene via Self-Organization at the Macroscale
Huy Quang Ta1,2,3, Alicja Bachmatiuk3,4,5, Rafael Gregorio Mendes1,2,3
1Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials Innovations, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 23, 2020
Summary
Graphene flakes synchronize during growth, forming a single crystal layer. This discovery advances graphene synthesis for wafer-scale production of single-crystal and few-layer graphene.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Self-organizing systems are prevalent in nature, from neural networks to correlated materials.
- The phenomenon of synchronization, first observed in pendulums by Christiaan Huygens in 1665, is a fundamental aspect of self-organization.
- Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, possesses unique electronic and mechanical properties, making it a material of significant scientific and technological interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synchronization of nucleated graphene flakes during growth.
- To understand the mechanisms driving the alignment of graphene crystals.
- To demonstrate advanced control over graphene synthesis for large-area single-crystal and few-layer graphene production.
Main Methods:
- Nucleation of graphene flakes over a polycrystalline graphene film.
- Observation and analysis of flake synchronization and crystal orientation.
- Investigation of strain and diffusion gradients as cross-talk mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Graphene flakes synchronize during growth to achieve a common crystal orientation at the macroscale.
- Strain and diffusion gradients are identified as probable causes for long-range cross-talk between flakes.
- Demonstration of controlled nucleation, crystal shape, registry, and relative alignment of graphene crystals.
Conclusions:
- Graphene synthesis can be controlled to achieve synchronized growth of flakes.
- This synchronization leads to the formation of large-area single-grain graphene layers.
- The study enables wafer-scale growth of single-crystal bilayer and (AB-stacked) few-layer graphene with controlled orientation.
