Chapter 1 - Synthesis of graphene and other two-dimensional materials

Abstract

Graphene and two-dimensional (2D) materials have experienced an outstanding development in the last few years. The confinement of the carriers and the improved electrostatic control in the thin channels of fabricated devices have demonstrated surprising results in terms of electrical, photonic, and mechanical properties. However, these properties are still dependent on the fabrication process. Thickness, roughness, scalability, mobility, or defect density are closely related to the specific synthesis method. In this chapter, we describe the main synthesis methods for the fabrication of graphene and other 2D materials with extraordinary properties. Potentially, the van der Waals interaction between 2D crystals offer a platform for alternating disparate atomic layers in both vertical and lateral fashion, creating hybrid heterostructures with a variety of exciting physical phenomena in increasingly sophisticated devices.