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Polycrystalline graphene and other two-dimensional materials

Nature Nanotechnology volume 9, pages 755–767 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Graphene, a single atomic layer of graphitic carbon, has attracted intense attention because of its extraordinary properties that make it a suitable material for a wide range of technological applications. Large-area graphene films, which are necessary for industrial applications, are typically polycrystalline — that is, composed of single-crystalline grains of varying orientation joined by grain boundaries. Here, we present a review of the large body of research reported in the past few years on polycrystalline graphene. We discuss its growth and formation, the microscopic structure of grain boundaries and their relations to other types of topological defect such as dislocations. The Review further covers electronic transport, optical and mechanical properties pertaining to the characterizations of grain boundaries, and applications of polycrystalline graphene. We also discuss research, still in its infancy, performed on other two-dimensional materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides, and offer perspectives for future directions of research.

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Figure 1: Experimental studies of polycrystalline graphene and extended defects.
Figure 2: Out-of-plane deformations and transformations of topological defects.
Figure 3: Growth of graphene grains and polycrystalline graphene by chemical vapour deposition.
Figure 4: Electronic transport across grain boundaries in graphene.
Figure 5: Mechanical properties of polycrystalline graphene.
Figure 6: Grain boundaries in binary two-dimensional materials.

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Acknowledgements

O.V.Y. acknowledges funding from the Swiss NSF (grant no. PP00P2_133552) and the ERC for Grant “TopoMat” (no. 306504), as well as technical assistance from G. Autès and F. Gargiulo while preparing the manuscript. Y.P.C. acknowledges research support from NSF, NIST, DTRA, DHS and Purdue University, and collaborations and helpful discussions with many group members and colleagues on topics related to this Review, in particular H. Cao, T.-F. Chung, R. Colby, L. A. Jauregui, E. A. Stach, J. Tian and Q. Yu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Theoretical Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland

    Oleg V. Yazyev

  2. Department of Physics and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, Indiana, USA

    Yong P. Chen

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  1. Oleg V. Yazyev
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Correspondence to Oleg V. Yazyev or Yong P. Chen.

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Yazyev, O., Chen, Y. Polycrystalline graphene and other two-dimensional materials. Nature Nanotech 9, 755–767 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.166

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