F R A U N H O F E R - I N S T I T U T E F O R M A N U F A C T U R I N G E N G I N E E R I N G A N D A U T O M AT I O N I PA
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1 Structure of graphene
2 Application example 1:
Photovoltaic
Fraunhofer Institute for
Manufacturing Engineering and
Automation IPA
Nobelstr. 12
70569 Stuttgart
Directors:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Prof. e.h. Dr. h.c. mult.
Engelbert Westkämper
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Verl
Contact:
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Ivica Kolaric, MBA
Phone +49 (0)711 970 3729
Ivica.Kolaric@ipa.fraunhofer.de
www.ipa.fraunhofer.de
PRODUCTION METHODS OF
GRAPHENE AND RESULTING
MATERIAL PROPERTIES
General Description
The department “Process Engineering of
Functional Materials” operating in Stuttgart,
Germany, is a research center for synthesis
and application development of nanomate-
rials. Since 2001, mainly the use of carbon
nanotubes (CNT) was investigated. The
acquired experience and skills, especially
in various CNT dispersions, promoted the
development and implementation of new
nano-materials and processes in accordance
with industrial requirements.
Since 2008, as a continuation of research on
carbon nanomaterials, Fraunhofer IPA has
been working on graphene materials and
their processing.
Graphene, a monolayer form of carbon
with a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice,
has shown many interesting properties from
the mechanical, electrical, thermal and
optical point of view. These properties make
graphene a material of interest for many ap-
plications, for example in the fields of elect-
ronics, composites, sensors as well as energy
storage and conversion. These engineering
applications require availability of graphene
on the mass scale and thus the development
of suitable processes is necessary.
Available Production Methods
The focus of the work of the Fraunhofer IPA
and its partners is on the synthesis of the
graphene. The processes which are mainly
used are chemical vapour deposition (CVD)
and electrochemical synthesis.
CVD is in principle a process of thermal de-
composition of hydrocarbons on transition
metals. Graphene growth occur due to the
precipitation of graphite from carbon spe-
cies within the Ni film and the carbon atoms
form a solid solution resulting in an ultrathin
graphene film (1 to ~ 10 layers) over the Ni
surface.
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This method allows the transfer of the pro-
duced film to alternative substrates, for in-
stance a polycarbonate (PC), by wet-etching
the Ni film. This results in a free-standing
PC / graphene membrane (Figure 1) that
exhibits outstanding optical transparency
and electrical conductivity.
The ability to grow single and few-layer
graphene with CVD is an important advan-
tage. This technique can potentially enable
the simple growth of graphene at particular
locations and with desired geometries by
controlling the catalyst morphology and
position.
Electrochemical synthesis of graphene sheets
is a one step treatment and can be classified
as subcategory of graphite exfoliation.
In this case, two high purity graphite rods
are used as electrodes. In the electrochemi-
cal cell they are immersed in the electrolyte
Diagram 1: Sheet resistance in relation to
electrical conductivty of a graphen layer
bath. application as electronic components.
Static potential is applied to the two elect- • Inclusion of defects:
rodes. Under these conditions the anode is Deformation of graphene lattice
corroding and a black precipitate is gradually structure by rearrangement of carbon
appearing in the reactor. After electrolysis, atoms, influences optical properties of
stable graphene dispersion is obtained. The graphene, with the potential of impro-
supernatant can be directly filtered to form ved transparency for applications in e.g.
a graphene paper, or washed and dried to photovoltaics.
obtain bulk powders of graphene. In Figure
6 the filtered material is shown.
The as-prepared graphene nanosheets are Applications
stable in aqueous solution, ready to be iso-
lated as monolayer or multilayer graphene Graphene is a unique material that is well
sheets. suited for applications in surface treatment.
The graphene layers have been successfully
applied to various substrates and show a
Engineering Methods great potential for numerous electronic
applications, for such as:
Furthermore, the properties of graphene can • Environmental Sensors
be modified by post-synthesis treatment. • Flexible Solar Cells
For example, chemical impurities, atomic • Touch sensors
substitutions and functional groups can be • Stretchable electrodes
an effective way to modify and control the • Foldable Displays
properties of graphene. Even more, defects • RF applications
alter the electronic structure and therefore
the properties.
Among properties engineering methods,
one can find:
• Chemical functionalization:
Attachment of functional groups to
the carbon atoms, influences chemical
properties/compatibility with other mate-
rials, what may be of crucial importance
in the production of composite materials.
• Substitutional functionalisation: 1 Transparent and conductive coa-
Substitution of carbon atoms in the ting made of graphene on poly
graphene structure with other atoms carbonate with 70% transmit-
influences the electronic structure and tance at 550nm and 600 Ohm / sq.
properties of graphene important for Size: 2x3 cm2
2 Application example 2: OLED