Direct Plasma‐Enhanced‐Chemical‐Vapor‐Deposition Syntheses of Vertically Oriented Graphene Films on Functional Insulating Substrates for Wide‐Range Applications

Abstract

Graphene has inspired wide‐range research interests and practical applications due to its intriguing materials properties and versatile application prospects. Specifically, vertically oriented graphene (VG) constructed by vertically aligned nanosheets emerges as a unique material type, usually achieved through a plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) route. The VG films possess abundant exposed active edges, large surface areas, relatively high electrical conductivity, and excellent thermal property in both in‐plane and out‐of‐plane directions. Direct synthesizing of such VG films on various functional substrates enables their transfer‐free integrations and direct applications in thermal management, sensing, energy storage and conversion, etc. In this review article, it is planned to showcase the recent advances in direct PECVD growth of VG films on some novel functional insulating substrates (e.g., glass, functional ceramics), mainly in terms of improving the electrical conductivity, enhancing the interfacial adhesion, and graphene growth orientation modulation. Meanwhile, the applications of the PECVD‐derived products in various new fields will also be discussed, such as photothermal conversion, switchable windows, light attenuation in photography, transparent heating, and thermal management for high‐power devices. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities will also be presented regarding controllable syntheses of high‐quality VG films and practical application explorations in different fields.

Direct-Chemical Vapor Deposition-Enabled Graphene for Emerging Energy Storage: Versatility, Essentiality, and Possibility

“…The direct-CVD growth of graphene relies mainly on the thermal decomposition of the carbon precursor because of the catalytic inertness of the growth substrate, whereas a myriad of substrates is unable to bear an elevated temperature treatment ( e.g., 1000 °C). Note that the PECVD technique enables the facile cracking of carbon precursor with the aid of plasma, which can readily achieve graphene growth under a relatively low temperature . In consequence, more efforts should be devoted to promoting the further development of the low-temperature PECVD route, which would allow the conformal coating of graphene on arbitrary substrates.…”

“…Note that the PECVD technique enables the facile cracking of carbon precursor with the aid of plasma, which can readily achieve graphene growth under a relatively low temperature. 199 In consequence, more efforts should be devoted to promoting the further development of the low-temperature PECVD route, which would allow the conformal coating of graphene on arbitrary substrates. In terms of the PECVD growth of graphene on dielectric supports, the metal-catalyst-assisted growth is again appealing owing to the weak catalytic ability of the substrates.…”

Portable Vertical Graphene@Au-Based Electrochemical Aptasensing Platform for Point-of-Care Testing of Tau Protein in the Blood

“…In this work, a portable electrochemical aptasensing platform is developed for the point-of-care detection of tau protein in the blood. In this electrochemical sensing system, vertical graphene (VG) modified with nanoAu (VG@Au) is used as an electrode material because of its large specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility, good chemical stability, and outstanding biocompatibility [ 32 , 33 ], which improves sensitivity and reduces detection limit. In addition, nanoAu is also used to bind with aptamer.…”

Synthesis of Vertical Graphene Nanowalls on Substrates by PECVD as Effective EMI Shielding Materials

“…VGNs were normally prepared by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. 30,31 Different from the conventional thermal CVD methods, PECVD encompasses a generator to induce high-energy plasma in the growth apparatus. The generated plasma can provide extra energy for the decomposition of precursors, accompanied by drastically reduced growth temperature below 600 °C.…”

“…Composed of vertically aligned few-layer graphene flakes, VGNs maintain the fantastic electrical properties of graphene. , The combination of the porous nanostructure and favorable electrical conductivity make VGNs a promising EMI shielding material. VGNs were normally prepared by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. , Different from the conventional thermal CVD methods, PECVD encompasses a generator to induce high-energy plasma in the growth apparatus. The generated plasma can provide extra energy for the decomposition of precursors, accompanied by drastically reduced growth temperature below 600 °C .…”