The large-area, synthetic graphene produced on copper (Cu) substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is typically poly-crystalline, consisting of a number of small single-crystalline grains separated by grain boundaries. Multiple graphene grains of different in-plane orientations are simultaneously nucleated in random and uncontrolled locations on the surface of polycrystalline copper foils. As the growth proceeds, these graphene grains coalesce and eventually form interconnected polycrystalline films. The sizes of the grains and the grain boundaries between them are predicted to strongly affect the electrical and mechanical properties of graphene films. The initial nucleation and growth dynamics of graphene play a critical role in determining the final quality of CVD graphene films. While it is highly desirable to synthesize large-area, high-quality single crystalline graphene films, achieving such an objective requires lower nucleation density of individual graphene grains to minimize the grain boundaries. However, merely controlling the nucleation number of graphene grains (domains) is insufficient. The shape and structure of individual graphene domains also greatly influences its properties and directly determines the grain boundary in polycrystalline graphene film. Thus, the tailoring and direct observation of the domain shape structure is very important for understanding the growth mechanism as well as to maximize single-crystalline graphene’s inherent outstanding properties for future application. I will address my recent research on the dynamics of CVD graphene growth on copper foils. Here, a low-pressure approach will be utilized to synthesize square-Shaped, single-Crystal, monolayer graphene domains. In the last part of my presentation I will talk about the latest updates for graphene application in motive power batteries.

The large-area, synthetic graphene produced on copper (Cu) substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is typically poly-crystalline, consisting of a number of small single-crystalline grains separated by grain boundaries. Multiple graphene grains of different in-plane orientations are simultaneously nucleated in random and uncontrolled locations on the surface of polycrystalline copper foils. As the growth proceeds, these graphene grains coalesce and eventually form interconnected polycrystalline films. The sizes of the grains and the grain boundaries between them are predicted to strongly affect the electrical and mechanical properties of graphene films. The initial nucleation and growth dynamics of graphene play a critical role in determining the final quality of CVD graphene films. While it is highly desirable to synthesize large-area, high-quality single crystalline graphene films, achieving such an objective requires lower nucleation density of individual graphene grains to minimize the grain boundaries. However, merely controlling the nucleation number of graphene grains (domains) is insufficient. The shape and structure of individual graphene domains also greatly influences its properties and directly determines the grain boundary in polycrystalline graphene film. Thus, the tailoring and direct observation of the domain shape structure is very important for understanding the growth mechanism as well as to maximize single-crystalline graphene’s inherent outstanding properties for future application. I will address my recent research on the dynamics of CVD graphene growth on copper foils. Here, a low-pressure approach will be utilized to synthesize square-Shaped, single-Crystal, monolayer graphene domains. In the last part of my presentation I will talk about the latest updates for graphene application in motive power batteries.