Synthesis of Graphene Using Chemical Vapor Deposition
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Chemistry
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a plane of sp2-bonded atoms with a molecular bond strength of 0.142 nm. Because of its extraordinary electrical, thermal, and chemical properties, graphene is a very useful material and has many applications. Some of the applications include car interior, construction materials, and antimicrobial materials such as microchips, solar panels, and ballistic transistors. Graphene’s use is currently limited, because it is expensive to produce and difficult to mass produce. Developing new optimal conditions will make synthesizing and mass-producing graphene easier and more cost efficient has been a topic of much research and was the objective of this project. The method used to optimize the growth of graphene was thermal chemical vapor deposition. The surface of the copper foil was cleaned with hydrogen fluoride and made more optimal for 2 hours with argon and hydrogen at 1050˚C. The graphene seeds were grown with Methane and Hydrogen at 1050˚C and cooled with Hydrogen or Methane. The graphene was transferred to silicon wafers and the polymer PMMA, later removed with acetone, was used to support it. Copper etching with Iron (III) chloride was used to rid any remaining copper. The graphene was rinsed in distilled water and transferred to a silicon dioxide bath. The synthesized graphene was observed using Raman Spectroscopy, Optical Microscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The results observed showed that the graphene was successfully synthesized, but the optimal conditions in which to grow the graphene were not conclusive.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Tyler, "Synthesis of Graphene Using Chemical Vapor Deposition" (2019). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 163.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2019/all/163
Location
Founders Hall 108 A
Start Date
3-30-2019 9:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
Synthesis of Graphene Using Chemical Vapor Deposition
Founders Hall 108 A
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a plane of sp2-bonded atoms with a molecular bond strength of 0.142 nm. Because of its extraordinary electrical, thermal, and chemical properties, graphene is a very useful material and has many applications. Some of the applications include car interior, construction materials, and antimicrobial materials such as microchips, solar panels, and ballistic transistors. Graphene’s use is currently limited, because it is expensive to produce and difficult to mass produce. Developing new optimal conditions will make synthesizing and mass-producing graphene easier and more cost efficient has been a topic of much research and was the objective of this project. The method used to optimize the growth of graphene was thermal chemical vapor deposition. The surface of the copper foil was cleaned with hydrogen fluoride and made more optimal for 2 hours with argon and hydrogen at 1050˚C. The graphene seeds were grown with Methane and Hydrogen at 1050˚C and cooled with Hydrogen or Methane. The graphene was transferred to silicon wafers and the polymer PMMA, later removed with acetone, was used to support it. Copper etching with Iron (III) chloride was used to rid any remaining copper. The graphene was rinsed in distilled water and transferred to a silicon dioxide bath. The synthesized graphene was observed using Raman Spectroscopy, Optical Microscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The results observed showed that the graphene was successfully synthesized, but the optimal conditions in which to grow the graphene were not conclusive.
