The Characterization Analysis of Graphene

Abstract

This chapter describes various state-of-the-art fabrication routes for high-quality graphene included: chemical vapour deposition (CVD), mechanical exfoliation, chemical exfoliation, electrochemical exfoliation, arc discharge, epitaxial growth, and pyrolysis. CVD is a widely used technique for growing high-quality graphene films on metal catalyst substrates, and copper foil has shown promising results. Mechanical exfoliation involves peeling graphite flakes from highly oriented pyrolytic carbon (HOPG) platelets using Scotch tape, resulting in single-layer graphene. Chemical exfoliation has two methods: solution-assisted and low-temperature chemical exfoliation. Electrochemical exfoliation involves the intercalation and exfoliation of graphite into graphene nanosheets through electrolyte solutions. Arc discharge is a plasma deposition technique for synthesizing high-quality graphene sheets using alternating current arc-discharge processes. Epitaxial growth involves growing single-layer or multilayer graphene on a SiC substrate using high-temperature sublimation growth. Pyrolysis is a 6-step process of poly(methyl methacrylate) composite that results in carbon derivatives that dissolve in the Ni catalyst surface, resulting in the epitaxial growth of graphene. Each method has its unique features, advantages, and disadvantages, making them suitable for different applications. For example, mechanical exfoliation remains one of the most reliable ways of producing high-quality graphene and has led to the discovery of graphene's extraordinary physical properties. Chemical exfoliation can produce graphene on a large scale, and electrochemical exfoliation is effective in creating biocompatible and fluorescent carbon nanomaterials for biological labelling and imaging. CVD as well as epitaxial growth can produce high-quality graphene films, and pyrolysis produces graphene with a high degree of graphitization. The choice of the appropriate technique is crucial for specific applications.