Developing wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire

Developing wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire
Mechanism of alignment of graphene domains on Al2O3 (0001) substrate.(A) The schematic of the homemade induction heating CVD reactor, where sapphire substrate is directly placed on the graphite carrier that is surrounded with induction coil. (B and C) The simulated temperature distribution of the induction heating cold wall CVD system (at 1400°C, 2000 Pa) (B) and the corresponding temperature profile against the distance from graphite carrier (C). (D) Two configurations of graphene cluster C24H12 adsorbed on a sapphire (0001) substrate with a rotational angle of 30°. C1 and C2 denote the C atoms on top of the surface low Al atom. The lattice vectors of graphene and sapphire (0001) are labeled as green and blue arrows, respectively. (E) First-principles calculations of the relative energies of graphene cluster C24H12 on an Al2O3 (0001) substrate with various rotational angles. The hollow circles and squares correspond to the unconstrained configurations at 0°, 30°, and 60°. Credit: Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.abk0115

Researchers have used direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of wafer-scale, high-quality graphene on dielectrics for versatile applications. However, graphene synthesized this way has shown a polycrystalline film with uncontrolled defects, a low carrier mobility, and high street resistance; therefore, researchers aim to introduce new methods to develop wafer-scale graphene. In a new report now published in Science Advances, Zhaolong Chen and an international research team in nanochemistry, intelligent materials and physics, in China, U.K. and Singapore, described the direct growth of highly oriented monolayer graphene on films of sapphire wafers. They achieved the growth strategy by designing an electromagnetic induction CVD at elevated temperature. The graphene film developed in this way showed a markedly improved carrier mobility and reduced sheet resistance.

The development and applications of graphene on materials.

Graphene has a good mechanical robustness, a high carrier mobility, increased optical transparency and holds promise for high-frequency applications, as well as transparent conductive electrodes. The linear dispersion of the Dirac electrons of can also allow target devices including photodetectors and optical modulators. Most such applications rely on the use of single-crystal, wafer-scale graphene without contamination or breakages. While wafer-scale, high-mobility graphene was readily produced before, the layer number uniformity has remained unsatisfactory across the entire wafer. Researchers therefore sought to facilitate the direct synthesis of graphene on silicon oxide, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), and glass by using conventional chemical vapor deposition techniques. In this work, Chen et al. presented the direct growth of wafer-scale continuous, highly oriented films on sapphire via an electromagnetic induction-heating-based method of chemical vapor deposition. This approach of direct growth of highly oriented graphene films on sapphire wafers paved the way towards emerging graphene electronics and photonics.

Developing wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire
Direct growth of a monolayer graphene film on sapphire wafer by electromagnetic induction heating CVD.(A) A typical photograph of an as-grown 2-inch graphene/sapphire wafer. Photo credit: Zhaolong Chen, Peking University. (B) Typical SEM image of as-grown graphene on sapphire. The inset shows the high-magnification SEM image of graphene. (C) Raman spectra of as-grown graphene measured from representative positions labeled in (A). arb. units, arbitrary units. (D) Raman I2D/IG map of as-grown graphene films on sapphire. (E) Optical microscopy (OM) image of the as-grown graphene after transfer onto a SiO2/Si substrate. (F) Atomic force microscopy (AFM) height image of as-grown graphene after transfer onto a SiO2/Si substrate. (G) High-resolution cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of as-grown graphene on sapphire. Credit: Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.abk0115

The experiments: Graphene on sapphire

During the experiments, Chen et al. used electromagnetic induction heating as the heat source of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system to extend the growth parameter space during the growth of high-quality graphene. The reactor enabled quick temperature ramping to 1400 degrees Celsius within 10 minutes. The process allowed precise regulation on the active carbon supply for the homogenous growth of monolayer graphene. To understand the role of sapphire during graphene formation, the team conducted density functional theory (DFT) calculations to reveal the preferred orientation of the graphene domain on sapphire. To accomplish this, they modeled the adsorption of a small graphene cluster (C24H12) on an aluminum oxide slab. The model showed the possibility for the growth of wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire, after an interface coupling-guided growth mechanism. The elevated temperature during growth facilitated sufficient pyrolysis of methane and the efficient migration of the adsorbed active carbon on sapphire to promote the growth rate and crystal quality. A continuous graphene film covered the 2-inch sapphire wafer within 30 minutes with high transparency.

Developing wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire
High-quality graphene film consisting of highly oriented graphene domains.(A) Schematic diagram of the locations for LEED measurement on 5 mm by 5 mm graphene/sapphire. The diameter of the electron beam was ~1 mm. (B to D) Representative false color LEED patterns of as-grown graphene/sapphire at 70 eV. (E) TEM image on the edge of graphene film. (F) Typical SAED pattern of as-grown graphene. The inset shows the intensity profile of the diffraction pattern along the dashed yellow line, indicating the monolayer feature of the graphene. (G) Histogram of the angle distribution of SAED patterns randomly taken from 10 μm by 10 μm. (H) Atomically resolved scanning TEM image of as-grown graphene. (I to K) Three representative scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of as-grown graphene on sapphire in different areas along 2 μm with intervals of 1 μm. (L) Typical dI/dV spectrum of the as-grown graphene on sapphire. Credit: Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.abk0115

Characterizing the graphene film on the sapphire wafer

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Chen et al. noted a homogenous contrast of the monolayer graphene at full coverage, without any voids. Using Raman spectra of the graphene produced on sapphire, they identified Raman signals indicative of a high quality monolayer of graphene and confirmed its uniformity across the wafer scale. The optical microscopy results similarly showed a uniform optical contrast without any contamination or visible secondary layers. Using atomic force microscopy, they then identified further characteristics of monolayer graphene grown by the CVD () method. Further analysis with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed high uniformity without contamination. The experimental setup allowed the growth of monolayer graphene in the absence of large carbon clusters in the gas phase and the presence of individual carbons reaching the surface of graphene to quickly migrate to the edge of graphene. To understand the lattice orientations of the as-grown monolayer of graphene on sapphire, the team performed low-energy electron diffraction characterization and revealed the highly oriented nature of the wafer-sized graphene. To further verify structural information of the material, they conducted selected area electron diffraction measurements and also noted the honeycomb lattice architecture of graphene using atomically resolved TEM images. The experimental setup allowed the nuclei to reach the most stable orientation.

Developing wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire
Electrical properties of the as-grown highly oriented graphene.(A) Sheet resistance map of the 2-inch graphene/sapphire wafer. (B) Comparison of the sheet resistance versus optical transmission (at 550 nm) of directly gown graphene on sapphire in this work with previously reported pristine graphene and doped graphene grown on copper, nickel, and glass substrates. (C) Resistance of graphene versus the top gate voltage, and the nonlinear fitting of mobility is ~14,700 cm2 V−1 s−1 (T = 4 K). The inset shows OM image of the h-BN top-gated graphene Hall bar device. Scale bar, 2 μm (inset). (D) Terahertz large-size mobility mapping of the graphene film grown on sapphire at room temperature. Credit: Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.abk0115

Further experiments

Chen et al. next conducted scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to probe the stitching state of the graphene domains. The STM image revealed a honeycomb lattice, too, aligned without any defects. The atomically resolved image further highlighted the presence of a continuous film with a small grain boundary. The work also confirmed the successful climbing of sapphire steps caused by carbon thermal reduction of sapphire. The V-shaped density states alongside the characteristic Dirac cone-like feature of single-layer graphene agreed with the honeycomb architecture to re-establish the high quality and purity of the highly oriented film of thus grown graphene. The scientists next performed macroscopic four probe transport measurements to assess the large-scale electrical conductivity of as-grown on sapphire wafers. They noted a sheet resistance map of a 2-inch graphene/sapphire wafer, with an average value as low as 587 ± 40 ohms. The outcome was markedly superior when compared to those for graphene directly grown on glass substrates. The team then measured the field-effect mobility of graphene on sapphire and recorded its carrier density. The values were also markedly higher than those observed with graphene directly grown on dielectric substrates and metals. The outcomes hold promise in electronic and optoelectronic applications.

Outlook

In this way, Zhaolong Chen and colleagues developed a method for the direct growth of wafer-scale, continuous, highly oriented monolayer graphene film on sapphire using an electromagnetic induction heating CVD route. The synthetic method facilitated quick temperature ramping up to 1400 Celsius within 10 minutes for efficient pyrolysis of carbon feedstock to enable the fast migration of active species. This efficient and reliable synthetic route of high-quality monolayer graphene on wafer was compatible with semiconductor processes and can ultimately promote high-performance graphene electronics and industrialization.

More information: Zhaolong Chen et al, Direct growth of wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire, Science Advances (2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0115

Yanqing Wu et al, High-frequency, scaled graphene transistors on diamond-like carbon, Nature (2011). DOI: 10.1038/nature09979

Journal information: Science Advances , Nature

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Citation: Developing wafer-scale highly oriented graphene on sapphire (2021, December 1) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2021-12-wafer-scale-highly-graphene-sapphire.html
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