Sains Malaysiana 43(8)(2014): 1205–1211

Growth of Graphene on Nickel using a Natural Carbon Source by

Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

(Penumbuhan Grafin di atas Nikel dengan Menggunakan Sumber Karbon Semula

Jadi Melalui Pemendapan Berhaba Wap Kimia)

SHAHARIN FADZLI ABD RAHMAN¹, MOHAMAD RUSOP MAHMOOD² & ABDUL MANAF HASHIM^3,4*

¹Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor

Malaysia

²Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor

Malaysia

³Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia International Campus, Jalan Semarak, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁴MIMOS Berhad, Technology Park Malaysia, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 29 May 2013/Accepted: 21 November 2013

ABSTRACT

We report the growth of few-layer graphene (FLG) on a nickel (Ni) substrate using palm oil as a single carbon source by thermal chemical vapor deposition (T-CVD). Using an ample amount of vaporized palm oil resulted in the formation of a thick, amorphous carbon film on the Ni surface. By decreasing the amount of the carbon source supply, thin films consisting of graphite grains and FLG were obtained at growth temperatures of 900 and 1000?C, confirming the potential of using palm oil as a source for graphene growth. The occasional voids were obtained on the transferred film and these voids were confirmed to be areas where FLGs are formed. These FLGs are likely removed during the transfer process. Further reducing the amount of palm oil suppressed the coverage of graphite grains and increased the void area formation on the transferred films, proving the increase of FLG coverage.

Keywords: Few layer graphene; nickel; palm oil; thermal chemical vapor deposition

ABSTRAK

Kami melaporkan penumbuhan beberapa lapisan grafin (FLG) di atas substrat nikel (Ni) dengan menggunakan minyak kelapa sawit sebagai sumber karbon tunggal melalui pemendapan berhaba wap kimia (T-CVD). Penggunaan jumlah wap minyak kelapa sawit yang berlebihan menghasilkan saput amorfus karbon yang tebal di atas permukaan nikel. Dengan mengurangkan jumlah bekalan sumber karbon, saput tipis yang mengandungi bijiran grafit dan FLG telah diperoleh pada suhu penumbuhan 900 dan 1000?C. Ini mengesahkan potensi menggunakan minyak kelapa sawit sebagai sumber untuk penumbuhan grafin. Beberapa lubang telah diperoleh atas saput yang dipindahkan dan lubang itu telah disahkan sebagai kawasan FLG terbentuk. FLG itu mungkin teralih keluar semasa proses pemindahan. Pengurangan selanjutnya jumlah minyak kelapa sawit menyekat pembentukan bijiran grafit dan menambahkan kawasan lubang pada saput yg telah dipindahkan. Ini membuktikan peningkatan liputan FLG.

Kata kunci: Beberapa lapisan grafin; minyak kelapa sawit; nikel; pemendapan berhaba wap kimia

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*Corresponding author; email: abd_manaf@ic.utm.my