This is a presentation detailing the goals of my research. In this lab, I am responsible for growing samples of graphene on a variety of different substrates and materials. I included some of the images taken from the microscope. I hope to include images in future presentations from the Raman spectroscopy to show the confirmation of graphene growth. This is all as a part of the STEM Teacher and Researcher fellowship program. I am placed at the Quantum Materials and Nanodevice Laboratory at San Francisco State University.

1. Graphene Growth
JESSICA PATALANO

2. Goals - Uniformity
 Fluid experiment (monolayer Cu balls and tubes)
 Smoother surface
 Faster flow rate
 Less drag
 Lithium ion battery (multilayer Ni foils)
 Sandwiched between SEI and current collector
 Hold energy better
 10x faster charge time

3. Goals - Uniformity
 Monolayer Graphene
 Much easier because of the nature of the material
 Bilayer Graphene (thickness < 1 nm)
 Gas-sensing properties
 Could be better at managing heat of high-power electrical devices
 Appropriate number of layers balances electrical conductivity with transparency

4. Process
 Initial cleaning – copper items
 DI water, acetone, repeat
 Ammonium persulfate bath
 Tubes – sonicate, then electropolish
 Initial cleaning – nickel items
 DI water, acetone, isopropanol

5. Process
 Pressure must be at 50 torr to open vacuum tube and mount sample
 Flushing the system
 100 sccm of methane for 10 minutes
 100 sccm of hydrogen for 10 minutes
 100 sccm of argon for 10 minutes

6. Process
 Oxide removal in furnace
 35 sccm of hydrogen
 Temperatures
 Nickel – 1000°C
 Copper - 1035°C
 Cooking times
 Foils and nickel foam: 70 minutes
 Copper tubes and ball: 50 minutes

7. Process – Methane Exposure
 Ni foil (few layer)
 CH4/H2 – 35/2 sccm
 30 minutes
 Ni foam
 CH4/H2 – 35/2 sccm
 5 minutes

8. Nickel foil and foam – 20x

9. Process – Methane Exposure
 Copper balls and tubes
 CH4/H2 – 40/15 sccm
 30 minutes

10. Copper ball and tube control – 20x
Before cleaning

11. Copper ball and tube with graphene?
Tube, 100x
Ball, 20x
Tube, 20x

12. Process – Methane Exposure
 Monolayer Graphene on Cu foil
 CH4/H2 – 35/2 sccm
 30 minutes
 Bilayer Graphene on Cu foil
 CH4/H2 – 16/70 sccm
 120 minutes

13. Copper foil
Monolayer, 20x Bilayer, 100x

14. Future Goals
 Confirm graphene growth on Cu tubes and balls
 Uniform samples on Ni foil and foam

15. Sources
 http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2010/may/12/few-layer-graphene-
keeps-its-cool
 http://www.crcnetbase.com/doi/abs/10.1201/b19461-35
 “Thermal properties of graphene and few-layer graphene: applications in
electronics” http://ndl.ee.ucr.edu/IET-Review-2015.pdf