Graphene produced by carbon diffusion through nickel foil

Abstract

This paper presents results of obtaining graphene and few-layer graphene nanostructures byunconventional method consisting in the diffusion of carbon through a thin nickel foil. The production ofgraphene and few-layer graphene nanostructures by the diffusion method was carried out under highvacuum conditions, with resistive heating of nickel. The growing method presented by us makes itpossible to control the process of graphene formation by changing parameters such as: temperature, timeand thickness of nickel. Data on the time dependence of the diffusion process on the nickel thickness andtemperature are given. From the obtained experimental data was found the parameters determining thediffusion dynamics: Eɑ - the activation energy and concentration diffusion coefficient. The obtainedsamples were investigated by optical and electron microscopy, as well as by Raman spectroscopy. Theexperimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical Arrhenius relation, which confirms thediffusion nature of the process.