Graphene transfer techniques involve methods to move graphene from its growth substrate to a target substrate for various applications. The most common and effective method involves using a support polymer, such as Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), to facilitate the transfer without damaging the graphene. This process begins by coating the graphene with PMMA, etching away the original substrate, and then transferring the PMMA-coated graphene to the new substrate. Other support polymers like thermal release tape and PDMS have been tested, but PMMA has proven most effective due to its ability to minimize damage during transfer.
Another approach is direct growth of graphene on non-metallic substrates, which is preferred to avoid the transfer process. This method requires high temperatures, metal-assisted catalysis, or plasma-enhanced CVD to compensate for the weaker catalytic activity of non-metallic surfaces. Although the quality of graphene produced this way is not as high, and the mechanisms of reactive groups on non-metallic surfaces are not fully understood, direct growth remains a desirable goal for its potential to eliminate the need for transfer.
Hybridization with other 2D materials, such as h-BN films or WS2-graphene heterostructures, also offers a method to enhance graphene's properties and applications. These hybrids can be created by either layer-by-layer transfer or direct growth, with the latter being more scalable and less prone to contamination.
In industrial settings, the most successful method for synthesizing large-area uniform graphene films involves chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of methane on copper foil. This method allows for large-scale production and can be optimized for higher throughput using techniques like batch-to-batch (B2B) or roll-to-roll (R2R) processes.
For applications requiring graphene on non-metallic substrates, the transfer process typically involves coating the graphene with PMMA, etching the metallic substrate, cleaning the graphene/PMMA film with deionized water, and then transferring it to the target substrate. The PMMA is later removed with acetone, leaving a clean graphene film on the desired substrate.
Overall, the choice of transfer technique depends on the specific requirements of the application, with considerations for minimizing damage, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability.
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