Observation of Graphene Domains on Nickel grown by CVD Methods using Optical Birefringence Visualization

Abstract

Large area graphene films have been widely synthesized using the CVD method, which uses various transition metal films such as Cu, Ni, Pt, Ir as a catalyst. Especially, Ni is a widely used metal catalyst due to several advantages below. Controllable growth of multi-layer graphene is possible, and has the smallest lattice constant mismatch among the several transition metals. Also, Ni has a low cost compared to other metals. However, the polycrystalline domain structures and domain boundaries degrade graphene properties, and such domain structures of graphene grown on Ni have not been previously investigated in depth. In this research, a new optical birefringence domain observation technique will be used to observe a large area of graphene domain boundaries on nickel at once. Most of all, the effect of nickel domain such as domain size and orientation on graphene growth, can be figured out. This method will open a window to obtain high quality graphene by using Ni as a catalyst.