Researchers at the Jagiellonian University have developed a new, simple and cost-effective method for producing nanographene directly on non-metallic materials, a breakthrough they say could support future applications in electronics, telecommunications and medicine.
The method enables the direct coating of semiconductors and insulators, including silicon-based materials, with graphene nanoribbons and flakes of specific structures, eliminating several complex and expensive steps required by existing techniques.
According to one of the authors, Rafał Zuzak, PhD, from the Department of Physics of Nanostructures and Nanotechnology at Jagiellonian University, the new approach simplifies the production process by creating nanographene structures directly on the target surface.
Current nanographene systems are typically synthesised on precious metals before being transferred to the final material, a process that is complex, energy-intensive and costly. One of the main challenges is transferring the graphene structures without damaging them. The researchers say their method overcomes this obstacle.
The process involves depositing graphene precursors directly onto the surface of non-metallic materials under high-vacuum conditions. The system is then heated to 200–220 degrees Celsius while being exposed to atomic hydrogen, which acts as a selective catalyst for surface reactions. These reactions convert the precursors into ordered nanographene structures without contaminating or damaging the coated surface.
The new technique removes the need for noble metals and eliminates the transfer of nanographene structures from metallic substrates to target materials, significantly simplifying the coating process.
"What is especially important, using the method does not require any novel or hard-to-obtain technologies or materials. It is based on industrially available graphene precursors and devices to generate vacuum and produce atomic hydrogen, known as crackers. We think that the availability of the tools and precursors paves the way for widespread industrial implementation of the method," Zuzak said.
According to Jagiellonian University, the technology is protected by international patents and is undergoing further research and development. The research team is collecting additional data on the scalability of the process and adapting the method to meet industrial requirements. (PAP)
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