Graphene on SiC as Outstanding Functional and Structural Material for Applications from the Nano- to the Macro-scale
Abstract
We have pioneered (AOARD 144045) a direct, liquid-phase epitaxial method, to synthesize graphene on silicon through the use of a catalytic alloy on epitaxial silicon carbide (3C-SiC) on silicon. This approach is currently yielding the best quality graphene on silicon carbide on silicon wafers, thanks to the advantages of liquid-phase epitaxy. Goals of this project are on the one hand to progress towards a comprehensive fundamental model of our graphene system to clarify the relationships between physical, mechanical, electrical and optical properties, which are likely to be closely intertwined. On the other hand, we also want to understand the fine details of the synthesis process so that we could attempt to generalize our approach to the use of alternate alloy compositions as well as to the use of an amorphous silicon carbide coating on silicon as solid source. The latter would allow extending our graphene synthesis to any amorphous SiC surface, potentially beyond silicon substrates. The results produced will potentially enable ground-breaking applications of graphene from nano- to macro –scale, for example: - outstanding conductive layer for nano-electro-mechanical devices or on-chip interconnections with ultimate scalability and reliability, i.e. the only alternative where classical conductors fail because of size effects, joule heating, electromigration, mechanical failure or dissipation. - macroscale functional nanocoatings for aerospace applications: light, with extraordinary mechanical and chemical resilience, hydrophobic, corrosion and wear-resistant, with exceptional electrical and thermal conduction. Other transformational pay-off from this study would also directly further molecule –selective gravimetric and plasmonic sensing technologies, as well as nanophotonics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 02, 2017
- Source ID
- FA23861714027
Entities
People
- Francesca Iacopi
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Technology Sydney