Graphene produced by carbon diffusion through nickel foil

Abstract

This paper presents results of obtaining graphene and few-layer graphene nanostructures by
unconventional method consisting in the diffusion of carbon through a thin nickel foil. The production of
graphene and few-layer graphene nanostructures by the diffusion method was carried out under high
vacuum conditions, with resistive heating of nickel. The growing method presented by us makes it
possible to control the process of graphene formation by changing parameters such as: temperature, time
and thickness of nickel. Data on the time dependence of the diffusion process on the nickel thickness and
temperature are given. From the obtained experimental data was found the parameters determining the
diffusion dynamics: Eɑ - the activation energy and concentration diffusion coefficient. The obtained
samples were investigated by optical and electron microscopy, as well as by Raman spectroscopy. The
experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical Arrhenius relation, which confirms the
diffusion nature of the process.