Massive grains of copper may bring graphene’s promise closer to reality

[unhappycamper]

http://natmonitor.com/2013/12/06/massive-grains-of-copper-may-bring-graphenes-promise-closer-to-reality/



The massive grains are several centimeters in size, but their relative mass allows them to endure the high temperatures required for graphene development.

Massive grains of copper may bring graphene’s promise closer to reality
National Monitor, Lance Tillson | December 06, 2013

Graphene, the one-atom thick carbon-based material, is the strongest, thinnest material known. It also is light, flexible, and capable of conducting electricity as well as copper. Researchers believe that graphene-based electronics could result in faster internet speeds, cheaper solar cells, new sensors, and a variety of other technological advancements.

Now, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology may be one step closer to realizing graphene’s promise. While looking for an optimal growth platform for the material, researchers formed an encouraging new technique for a graphene substrate: a thin film of copper with large crystalline grains.

The crucial improvement is the grain size of the copper substrate. The massive grains are several centimeters in size, but their relative mass allows them to endure the high temperatures required for graphene development, according to NIST researcher Mark Keller.

The failure of most copper films to endure this stage of graphene development “has been one problem preventing wafer-scale production of graphene devices,” Keller noted.

[valerief]

1. Why am I picturing amber waves of copper? nt