Wrinkled single-layer graphenes fabricated by silicon nanopillar arrays

Abstract

The degree of crumpling affects the optoelectronic properties of graphene, which are very important for the performance of graphene-based devices and materials. In this article, we report an approach to tune the formation of wrinkles on single-layer graphene (SLG) by silicon nanopillar (SNP) arrays. By using gold nanoparticles as an etching mask, SNP arrays with different heights could be prepared by tuning the duration of etching. The formation of wrinkles on these SNP arrays was studied systematically. We found that thermal treatment could lead to a wrapping behavior of graphene around SNP arrays, which was accompanied by the emergence of many more wrinkles. Controllable wettability, conductivity and transmittance were demonstrated. This ability to tune wrinkles using SNP arrays can be employed to engineer the fabrication of graphene-related devices and other optoelectronic applications.