3-D graphene growth by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for energy applications

Abstract

The tremendous need for more efficient energy systems such as fuel cells, lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors production led to materials development of which 2D and 3D graphene are the most important in terms of better electrical conductivity, large area, easy of functionalization. The influence of few kinetic parameters on 3D graphene growth on Ni foam substrate catalyst is discussed in this study, among them being: the working temperature in the reaction chamber, time of reaction and ethylene gas flow used as carbon source during the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. In order to preserve the 3D-graphene shape during their transfer, the nickel matrix was removed without using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as post growth stabilizer of the graphene foam.The samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical Microscopy (OM). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method was used to calculate the specific surface area, and the pore volume and pore radius were estimated by Barret-Joyner-Halenda method. The results have shown that a 1.6 mm thickness multilayer porous graphene that reproduces the Ni foam was obtained. The pore radius is about 1.9 nm, surface area 9.821 m 2 /g, and the average graphene mass density is about 12 mg/cm 3 . As compared with other methods, by CVD is possible to obtain in one step, large area (up to 100 cm 2 using the CVD installation presented in this paper) of graphene foam, with high porosity and plane surface that allow directly utilization for different applications.

Nitrogen Functionalization of CVD Grown Three-Dimensional Graphene Foam for Hydrogen Evolution Reactions in Alkaline Media

“…The three-dimensional graphene foam (3D-GrFoam) samples were grown by the CVD method using the EasyTube 3000ECT CVD installation/CVD Equipment Corporation installation (CVD Equipment Corporation, Central Islip, NY, USA). The detailed experimental conditions are presented elsewhere [ 35 ]. Typically, 200 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) of an ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) carbon source was cracked under atmospheric pressure at 1000 °C, in the presence of argon and hydrogen.…”

“…In nitrogen-doped graphene, there are several possible positions in which nitrogen can substitute carbon, such as pyridinic N and graphitic N/quaternary, that correspond to the sp 2 hybridization, pyrrolic N with sp 3 hybridization, amines, and N-oxides of pyridinic–N [ 26 , 32 ]. In the case of the pyridinic N and pyrrolic N configuration, the nitrogen-doped graphene is less conductive than pristine graphene, while graphitic N increases the graphene’s electrical properties [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Surface Properties of Graphene and Graphene Oxide Aerogels for Energy Storage Applications

“…For instance, Chen et al [71] prepared graphene aerogel by using nickel foam directly in the CVD process, where initially, a thin layer of graphene was deposited on the surface of nickel foam by the decomposition of methane at a temperature of 1,000 °C in the presence of hydrogen and argon gases. Before starting to prepare a nickel foam mold, a support material is deposited on top of the graphene film, usually poly (methyl methacrylate) is used, which can be removed later by using acetone, and all sheets of graphene in the prepared graphene foam are well-bound in together [72][73]. In the chemical evaporation technique, it is possible to increase the number of sheets of graphene in the aerated graphene by increasing the concentration of methane, and this leads to a change in the electrical conductivity and surface area, as the graphene generated in this way is characterized by its lightweight and high electromagnetic performance in addition to its high electrical conductivity with a tiny percentage of disadvantages [74].…”

Revisiting the Optoelectronic Properties of Graphene: A DFT Approach

“…It is an essential element of graphite, carbon nanotubes, and other allotropes of carbon, including fullerenes (0D), carbon nanotubes, and (3D) [1][2] [3]. In recognition of their groundbreaking discovery and contributions to science, they were awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize [4][5] [6]. The advent of graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of graphite characterised by sp2 hybridised carbon atoms organised in a hexagonal lattice, has led to the discovery of an extensive array of 2D nanomaterials.…”