Method of making graphene layers, and articles made thereby
View Patent ↗There is provided a method for forming a graphene layer. The method includes forming an article that comprises a carbon-containing self-assembled monolayer (SAM). A layer of nickel is deposited on the SAM. The article is heated in a reducing atmosphere and coolded. The heating and cooling steps are carried out so as to convert the SAM to a graphene layer.
1. A method, comprising:
forming an article that comprises a carbon-containing self-assembled monolayer (SAM);
depositing a layer of nickel on the SAM;
heating the article in a reducing atmosphere; and
cooling the article, wherein
the heating and cooling steps are carried out so as to convert the SAM to a graphene layer,
the forming step comprises depositing at least one amphiphilic compound on a substrate including silicon dioxide,
the amphiphilic compound comprises a tail group and a head group,
the tail group comprises a hydrocarbon moiety including at least one aliphatic chain, and
the head group comprises at least one species which is a thiol, a disulfide, a xanthate, a thiocarbamate, a carboxylic acid, a silyl ester, or a phosphonate, and the head group comprises a moiety that adheres to the substrate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the head group adheres to the substrate by covalent bonding.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the substrate from the graphene layer.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nickel is deposited by thermal evaporation.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the nickel layer.
6. A method, comprising:
forming an article that comprises a carbon-containing self-assembled monolayer (SAM);
depositing a layer of nickel on the SAM;
heating the article in a reducing atmosphere; and
cooling the article, wherein
the heating and cooling steps are carried out so as to convert the SAM to a graphene layer,
the forming step comprises depositing a mixture of at least two amphiphilic compounds on a substrate,
the amphiphilic compound comprises a tail group and a head group,
the head group comprises a moiety that adheres to the substrate,
the tail group comprises a hydrocarbon moiety,
at least one of said amphiphilic compounds is an alkyl surfactant, and
at least one of said amphiphilic compounds comprises a p-type or n-type dopant element selected so that the heating and cooling steps result in the formation of a graphene layer having, respectively, p-type or n-type semiconductive behavior.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the head group adheres to the substrate by covalent bonding.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising removing the substrate from the graphene layer.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the nickel is deposited by thermal evaporation.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising removing the nickel layer.