1
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Kim J, Singh SK, Liu Q, Leon CC, Ceyer ST. Formation of Graphene on Gold-Nickel Surface Alloys. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:6299-6309. [PMID: 36913359 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Nickel (Ni)-catalyzed growth of a single- or rotated-graphene layer is a well-established process above 800 K. In this report, a Au-catalyzed, low-temperature, and facile route at 500 K for graphene formation is described. The substantially lower temperature is enabled by the presence of a surface alloy of Au atoms embedded within Ni(111), which catalyzes the outward segregation of carbon atoms buried in the Ni bulk at temperatures as low as 400-450 K. The resulting surface-bound carbon in turn coalesces into graphene above 450-500 K. Control experiments on a Ni(111) surface show no evidence of carbon segregation or graphene formation at these temperatures. Graphene is identified by its out-of-plane optical phonon mode at 750 cm-1 and its longitudinal/transverse optical phonon modes at 1470 cm-1 while surface carbon is identified by its C-Ni stretch mode at 540 cm-1, as probed by high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Dispersion measurements of the phonon modes confirm the presence of graphene. Graphene formation is observed to be maximum at 0.4 ML Au coverage. The results of these systematic molecular-level investigations open the door to graphene synthesis at the low temperatures required for integration with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongjin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Santosh K Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Christopher C Leon
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - S T Ceyer
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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2
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Longo RC, Ueda H, Cho K, Ranjan A, Ventzek PLG. Mechanisms for Graphene Growth on SiO 2 Using Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition: A Density Functional Theory Study. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:9492-9503. [PMID: 35138793 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c23603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) of graphene layers on dielectric substrates is one of the most important processes for the incorporation of graphene in semiconductor devices. Graphene is moving rapidly from the laboratory to practical implementation; therefore, devices may take advantage of the unique properties of such nanomaterial. Conventional approaches rely on pattern transfers after growing graphene on transition metals, which can cause nonuniformities, poor adherence, or other defects. Direct growth of graphene layers on the substrates of interest, mostly dielectrics, is the most logical approach, although it is not free from challenges and obstacles such as obtaining a specific yield of graphene layers with desired properties or accurate control of the growing number of layers. In this work, we use density-functional theory (DFT) coupled with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to investigate the initial stages of graphene growth on silicon oxide. We select C2H2 as the PE-CVD precursor due to its large carbon contribution. On the basis of our simulation results for various surface models and precursor doses, we accurately describe the early stages of graphene growth, from the formation of carbon dimer rows to the critical length required to undergo dynamical folding that results in the formation of low-order polygonal shapes. The differences in bonding with the functionalization of the silicon oxide also mark the nature of the growing carbon layers as well as shed light of potential flaws in the adherence to the substrate. Finally, our dynamical matrix calculations and the obtained infrared (IR) spectra and vibrational characteristics provide accurate recipes to trace experimentally the growth mechanisms described and the corresponding identification of possible stacking faults or defects in the emerging graphene layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto C Longo
- Tokyo Electron America, Incorporated, 2400 Grove Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78741, United States
| | - Hirokazu Ueda
- Tokyo Electron Technology Solutions Limited, Miyahara 3-4-30 Yodogawaku, Osaka 532-0003, Japan
| | - Kyeongjae Cho
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Alok Ranjan
- Tokyo Electron America, Incorporated, 2400 Grove Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78741, United States
| | - Peter L G Ventzek
- Tokyo Electron America, Incorporated, 2400 Grove Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78741, United States
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3
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Al-Hilfi SH, Derby B, Martin PA, Whitehead JC. Chemical vapour deposition of graphene on copper-nickel alloys: the simulation of a thermodynamic and kinetic approach. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:15283-15294. [PMID: 32647854 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr00302f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of graphene on transition metals is generally believed to be the fabrication route best suited for the production of high-quality large-area graphene sheets. The mechanism of CVD graphene growth is governed by interactions in both the gas phase and at the surface. Here we present a simulation of the CVD graphene growth mechanism which includes thermodynamics, gas phase kinetics and the surface reaction in a sequential manner. The thermodynamic simulation shows that the deposition driving force is the greatest for high carbon to hydrogen ratios and reaches a maximum at around 850 °C. No graphene growth is observed below this temperature. The surface kinetic model also shows that below this temperature, the carbon surface concentration is less than the solubility limit, thus no film can grow. The effect of the reaction chamber geometry on the product concentrations was clear from the gas phase decomposition reactions. The gas residence times studied here (around 0.07 s) show that the optimum gas phase composition is far from that expected at thermodynamic equilibrium. The surface kinetics of CH4 reactions on Ni, Cu and Cu-Ni surfaces shows good agreement with the experimental results for different growth pressures (0.1 to 0.7 mbar), temperatures (600 to 1200 °C) and different Ni thicknesses (25-500 μm). Also, the model works well when substrates with various C solubilities are used. The thermodynamic and kinetic models described here can be used for the design of improved reactors to optimise the production of graphene with differing qualities, either single or multi-layer and sizes. More importantly, the transfer to a continuous process with a moving substrate should also be possible using the model if it is extended from 2D to 3D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir H Al-Hilfi
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.
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4
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Mustonen P, Mackenzie DMA, Lipsanen H. Review of fabrication methods of large-area transparent graphene electrodes for industry. FRONTIERS OF OPTOELECTRONICS 2020; 13:91-113. [PMID: 36641556 PMCID: PMC7362318 DOI: 10.1007/s12200-020-1011-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Graphene is a two-dimensional material showing excellent properties for utilization in transparent electrodes; it has low sheet resistance, high optical transmission and is flexible. Whereas the most common transparent electrode material, tin-doped indium-oxide (ITO) is brittle, less transparent and expensive, which limit its compatibility in flexible electronics as well as in low-cost devices. Here we review two large-area fabrication methods for graphene based transparent electrodes for industry: liquid exfoliation and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD). We discuss the basic methodologies behind the technologies with an emphasis on optical and electrical properties of recent results. State-of-the-art methods for liquid exfoliation have as a figure of merit an electrical and optical conductivity ratio of 43.5, slightly over the minimum required for industry of 35, while CVD reaches as high as 419.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petri Mustonen
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Aalto, FI-00076, Finland.
| | - David M A Mackenzie
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Aalto, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Harri Lipsanen
- Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Aalto, FI-00076, Finland
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5
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Gao J, Xu Z, Chen S, Bharathi MS, Zhang YW. Computational Understanding of the Growth of 2D Materials. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/adts.201800085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Gao
- Institute of High Performance Computing; A*STAR Singapore 138632 Singapore
| | - Ziwei Xu
- School of Materials Science & Engineering; Jiangsu University; Zhenjiang 212013 China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Institute of High Performance Computing; A*STAR Singapore 138632 Singapore
| | | | - Yong-Wei Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing; A*STAR Singapore 138632 Singapore
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6
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Habib MR, Liang T, Yu X, Pi X, Liu Y, Xu M. A review of theoretical study of graphene chemical vapor deposition synthesis on metals: nucleation, growth, and the role of hydrogen and oxygen. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2018; 81:036501. [PMID: 29355108 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/aa9bbf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Graphene has attracted intense research interest due to its extraordinary properties and great application potential. Various methods have been proposed for the synthesis of graphene, among which chemical vapor deposition has drawn a great deal of attention for synthesizing large-area and high-quality graphene. Theoretical understanding of the synthesis mechanism is crucial for optimizing the experimental design for desired graphene production. In this review, we discuss the three fundamental steps of graphene synthesis in details, i.e. (1) decomposition of carbon feedstocks and formation of various active carbon species, (2) nucleation, and (3) attachment and extension. We provide a complete scenario of graphene synthesis on metal surfaces at atomistic level by means of density functional theory, molecular dynamics (MD), Monte Carlo (MC) and their combination and interface with other simulation methods such as quantum mechanical molecular dynamics, density functional tight binding molecular dynamics, and combination of MD and MC. We also address the latest investigation of the influences of the hydrogen and oxygen on the synthesis and the quality of the synthesized graphene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rezwan Habib
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
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7
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McLean B, Eveleens CA, Mitchell I, Webber GB, Page AJ. Catalytic CVD synthesis of boron nitride and carbon nanomaterials - synergies between experiment and theory. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 19:26466-26494. [PMID: 28849841 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03835f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Low-dimensional carbon and boron nitride nanomaterials - hexagonal boron nitride, graphene, boron nitride nanotubes and carbon nanotubes - remain at the forefront of advanced materials research. Catalytic chemical vapour deposition has become an invaluable technique for reliably and cost-effectively synthesising these materials. In this review, we will emphasise how a synergy between experimental and theoretical methods has enhanced the understanding and optimisation of this synthetic technique. This review examines recent advances in the application of CVD to synthesising boron nitride and carbon nanomaterials and highlights where, in many cases, molecular simulations and quantum chemistry have provided key insights complementary to experimental investigation. This synergy is particularly prominent in the field of carbon nanotube and graphene CVD synthesis, and we propose here it will be the key to future advances in optimisation of CVD synthesis of boron nitride nanomaterials, boron nitride - carbon composite materials, and other nanomaterials generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben McLean
- School of Environmental & Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.
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8
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Dong Y, Gahl MT, Zhang C, Lin J. Computational study of precision nitrogen doping on graphene nanoribbon edges. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:505602. [PMID: 29087366 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa9727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen doping in graphene is important for applications spanning from electronics to metal-free electrocatalysts. Despite much experimental study, limited theoretic work has been done in understanding the mechanism of the doping process, especially from a precision perspective. Herein, we present a computational study on precision nitrogen doping on edges of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) by combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulation at a time scale of 40 ns and density function theory (DFT) calculation. In the MD study both ammonia and acetonitrile were used as nitrogen sources. MD results revealed that the ammonia produces almost all amine-type dopants, while the acetonitrile produces a considerable amount of pyrrolic and pyridinic nitrogen dopants which are beneficial to electronics and electrocatalysts. Results also show that the concentration of pyrrolic and pyridinic dopants can be precisely controlled by the edge geometries of the GNRs. Furthermore, DFT calculation illustrated the reaction mechanism in these different types of the GNRs when using acetonitrile as the nitrogen source. The calculated energies in different reaction stages indicate the stability of dopants on various GNRs, agreeing well with the MD results. The disclosed mechanism of controllable nitrogen doping on the edges of the GNRs would provide guidance to experimental realization, paving new routes to widespread applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Dong
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States of America
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9
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Khan IA, Badshah A, Nadeem MA. Single step pyrolytic conversion of zeolitic imidazolate to CoO encapsulated N-doped carbon nanotubes as an efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. CATAL COMMUN 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2017.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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10
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Arifin R, Shibuta Y, Shimamura K, Shimojo F. First principles molecular dynamics simulation of graphene growth on Nickel (111) surface. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/128/1/012032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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11
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Chen S, Xiong W, Zhou YS, Lu YF, Zeng XC. An ab initio study of the nickel-catalyzed transformation of amorphous carbon into graphene in rapid thermal processing. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:9746-55. [PMID: 27117235 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08614k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations are employed to investigate the chemical mechanism underlying the Ni-catalyzed transformation of amorphous carbon (a-C) into graphene in the rapid thermal processing (RTP) experiment to directly grow graphene on various dielectric surfaces via the evaporation of surplus Ni and C at 1100 °C (below the melting point of bulk Ni). It is found that the a-C-to-graphene transformation entails the metal-induced crystallization and layer exchange mechanism, rather than the conventional dissolution/precipitation mechanism typically involved in Ni-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. The multi-layer graphene can be tuned by changing the relative thicknesses of deposited a-C and Ni thin films. Our AIMD simulations suggest that the easy evaporation of surplus Ni with excess C is likely attributed to the formation of a viscous-liquid-like Ni-C solution within the temperature range of 900-1800 K and to the faster diffusion of C atoms than that of Ni atoms above 600 K. Even at room temperature, sp(3)-C atoms in a-C are quickly converted to sp(2)-C atoms in the course of the simulation, and the graphitic C formation can occur at low temperature. When the temperature is as high as 1200 K, the grown graphitic structures reversely dissolve into Ni. Because the rate of temperature increase is considerably faster in the AIMD simulations than in realistic experiments, defects in the grown graphitic structures are kinetically trapped. In this kinetic growth stage, the carbon structures grown from sp(3)-carbon or from sp(2)-carbon exhibit marked differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA.
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12
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Jiao M, Song W, Qian HJ, Wang Y, Wu Z, Irle S, Morokuma K. QM/MD studies on graphene growth from small islands on the Ni(111) surface. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:3067-3074. [PMID: 26785739 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07680c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulations of graphene growth from small island precursors in different carbon nucleation densities on the Ni(111) surface at high temperatures have been conducted. The results indicate that small islands are not static, i.e. lateral diffusion and vertical fluctuation are frequently observed. In the case of low carbon nucleation density, carbon atoms or small carbon patches diffuse and attach to the edge of the nuclei to expand the size of the growing carbon network. The growth of graphene precursors is accompanied by the corresponding changes in the bonding of nickel atoms with the precipitation of subsurface carbon atoms. This is because the carbon-carbon interaction is stronger than the nickel-carbon interaction. In the case of high carbon nucleation densities, the dominant ripening mechanism depends on different growth stages. In the initial stage, the coalescence of carbon islands takes place via the Smoluchowski ripening mechanism. In the later stage the Smoluchowski ripening process is damped owing to the higher diffusion barrier of larger clusters and the restriction of movement by self-assembled nickel step edges. The cross-linking mechanism eventually takes over by the coalescence of extended polyyne chains between graphene islands. In either case, the Ostwald ripening process is not found in our molecular dynamics simulations due to the stability of carbon-carbon bonds within the islands. These investigations should be instructive to the control of graphene growth in experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menggai Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Song
- Physics and Electronic Engineering Department, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Hu-Jun Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Zhijian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Stephan Irle
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM) and Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Keiji Morokuma
- Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8103, Japan
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13
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Garlow JA, Barrett LK, Wu L, Kisslinger K, Zhu Y, Pulecio JF. Large-Area Growth of Turbostratic Graphene on Ni(111) via Physical Vapor Deposition. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19804. [PMID: 26821604 PMCID: PMC4731759 DOI: 10.1038/srep19804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-layer graphene has demonstrated remarkable electronic properties that are strongly influenced by interfacial bonding and break down for the lowest energy configuration of stacked graphene layers (AB Bernal). Multilayer graphene with relative rotations between carbon layers, known as turbostratic graphene, can effectively decouple the electronic states of adjacent layers, preserving properties similar to that of SLG. While the growth of AB Bernal graphene through chemical vapor deposition has been widely reported, we investigate the growth of turbostratic graphene on heteroepitaxial Ni(111) thin films utilizing physical vapor deposition. By varying the carbon deposition temperature between 800 –1100 °C, we report an increase in the graphene quality concomitant with a transition in the size of uniform thickness graphene, ranging from nanocrystallites to thousands of square microns. Combination Raman modes of as-grown graphene within the frequency range of 1650 cm−1 to 2300 cm−1, along with features of the Raman 2D mode, were employed as signatures of turbostratic graphene. Bilayer and multilayer graphene were directly identified from areas that exhibited Raman characteristics of turbostratic graphene using high-resolution TEM imaging. Raman maps of the pertinent modes reveal large regions of turbostratic graphene on Ni(111) thin films at a deposition temperature of 1100 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Garlow
- Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973.,Material Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - Lawrence K Barrett
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Lijun Wu
- Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
| | - Kim Kisslinger
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
| | - Yimei Zhu
- Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973.,Material Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - Javier F Pulecio
- Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
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14
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Xu Z, Yan T, Liu G, Qiao G, Ding F. Large scale atomistic simulation of single-layer graphene growth on Ni(111) surface: molecular dynamics simulation based on a new generation of carbon-metal potential. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:921-929. [PMID: 26658834 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06016h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
To explore the mechanism of graphene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth on a catalyst surface, a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of carbon atom self-assembly on a Ni(111) surface based on a well-designed empirical reactive bond order potential was performed. We simulated single layer graphene with recorded size (up to 300 atoms per super-cell) and reasonably good quality by MD trajectories up to 15 ns. Detailed processes of graphene CVD growth, such as carbon atom dissolution and precipitation, formation of carbon chains of various lengths, polygons and small graphene domains were observed during the initial process of the MD simulation. The atomistic processes of typical defect healing, such as the transformation from a pentagon into a hexagon and from a pentagon-heptagon pair (5|7) to two adjacent hexagons (6|6), were revealed as well. The study also showed that higher temperature and longer annealing time are essential to form high quality graphene layers, which is in agreement with experimental reports and previous theoretical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Xu
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Tianying Yan
- Institute of New Energy Material Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Guiwu Liu
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Guanjun Qiao
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Feng Ding
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong, China.
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15
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Khan IA, Nasim F, Choucair M, Ullah S, Badshah A, Nadeem MA. Cobalt oxide nanoparticle embedded N-CNTs: lithium ion battery applications. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra23222h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ZIF-12 is converted to Co/N-CNTs at 950 °C under an argon atmosphere. The obtained hybrid nanocomposite is used for LIBs application as an anode material with superior charge storage performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- I. A. Khan
- Catalysis and Nanomaterials Lab 27
- Department of Chemistry
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad 45320
- Pakistan
| | - F. Nasim
- Catalysis and Nanomaterials Lab 27
- Department of Chemistry
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad 45320
- Pakistan
| | - M. Choucair
- School of Chemistry
- University of Sydney
- Sydney
- Australia 2006
| | - S. Ullah
- Catalysis and Nanomaterials Lab 27
- Department of Chemistry
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad 45320
- Pakistan
| | - A. Badshah
- Catalysis and Nanomaterials Lab 27
- Department of Chemistry
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad 45320
- Pakistan
| | - M. A. Nadeem
- Catalysis and Nanomaterials Lab 27
- Department of Chemistry
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- Islamabad 45320
- Pakistan
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16
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Page AJ, Saha S, Li HB, Irle S, Morokuma K. Quantum Chemical Simulation of Carbon Nanotube Nucleation on Al2O3 Catalysts via CH4 Chemical Vapor Deposition. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:9281-8. [PMID: 26148208 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b02952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
We present quantum chemical simulations demonstrating how single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) form, or "nucleate", on the surface of Al2O3 nanoparticles during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using CH4. SWCNT nucleation proceeds via the formation of extended polyyne chains that only interact with the catalyst surface at one or both ends. Consequently, SWCNT nucleation is not a surface-mediated process. We demonstrate that this unusual nucleation sequence is due to two factors. First, the π interaction between graphitic carbon and Al2O3 is extremely weak, such that graphitic carbon is expected to desorb at typical CVD temperatures. Second, hydrogen present at the catalyst surface actively passivates dangling carbon bonds, preventing a surface-mediated nucleation mechanism. The simulations reveal hydrogen's reactive chemical pathways during SWCNT nucleation and that the manner in which SWCNTs form on Al2O3 is fundamentally different from that observed using "traditional" transition metal catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alister J Page
- †Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
| | - Supriya Saha
- †Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
| | - Hai-Bei Li
- §School of Ocean, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
| | - Stephan Irle
- ∥Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM) and Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Keiji Morokuma
- ‡Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8103, Japan
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17
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Jiao M, Li K, Guan W, Wang Y, Wu Z, Page A, Morokuma K. Crystalline Ni3C as both carbon source and catalyst for graphene nucleation: a QM/MD study. Sci Rep 2015; 5:12091. [PMID: 26169042 PMCID: PMC4648399 DOI: 10.1038/srep12091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Graphene nucleation from crystalline Ni3C has been investigated using quantum chemical molecular dynamics (QM/MD) simulations based on the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) method. It was observed that the lattice of Ni3C was quickly relaxed upon thermal annealing at high temperature, resulting in an amorphous Ni3C catalyst structure. With the aid of the mobile nickel atoms, inner layer carbon atoms precipitated rapidly out of the surface and then formed polyyne chains and Y-junctions. The frequent sinusoidal-like vibration of the branched carbon configurations led to the formation of nascent graphene precursors. In light of the rapid decomposition of the crystalline Ni3C, it is proposed that the crystalline Ni3C is unlikely to be a reaction intermediate in the CVD-growth of graphene at high temperatures. However, results present here indicate that Ni3C films can be employed as precursors in the synthesis of graphene with exciting possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menggai Jiao
- 1] State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Alister Page
- Discipline of Chemistry, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
| | - Keiji Morokuma
- Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8103, Japan
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Page AJ, Ding F, Irle S, Morokuma K. Insights into carbon nanotube and graphene formation mechanisms from molecular simulations: a review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2015; 78:036501. [PMID: 25746411 DOI: 10.1088/0034-4885/78/3/036501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene over the last two decades has heralded a new era in physics, chemistry and nanotechnology. During this time, intense efforts have been made towards understanding the atomic-scale mechanisms by which these remarkable nanostructures grow. Molecular simulations have made significant contributions in this regard; indeed, they are responsible for many of the key discoveries and advancements towards this goal. Here we review molecular simulations of CNT and graphene growth, and in doing so we highlight the many invaluable insights gained from molecular simulations into these complex nanoscale self-assembly processes. This review highlights an often-overlooked aspect of CNT and graphene formation-that the two processes, although seldom discussed in the same terms, are in fact remarkably similar. Both can be viewed as a 0D → 1D → 2D transformation, which converts carbon atoms (0D) to polyyne chains (1D) to a complete sp(2)-carbon network (2D). The difference in the final structure (CNT or graphene) is determined only by the curvature of the catalyst and the strength of the carbon-metal interaction. We conclude our review by summarizing the present shortcomings of CNT/graphene growth simulations, and future challenges to this important area.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Page
- Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
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Shibuta Y, Arifin R, Shimamura K, Oguri T, Shimojo F, Yamaguchi S. Low reactivity of methane on copper surface during graphene synthesis via CVD process: Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. Chem Phys Lett 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2014.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Wu P, Zhang W, Li Z, Yang J. Mechanisms of graphene growth on metal surfaces: theoretical perspectives. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2014; 10:2136-2150. [PMID: 24687872 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201303680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Graphene is an important material with unique electronic properties. Aiming to obtain high quality samples at a large scale, graphene growth on metal surfaces has been widely studied. An important topic in these studies is the atomic scale growth mechanism, which is the precondition for a rational optimization of growth conditions. Theoretical studies have provided useful insights for understanding graphene growth mechanisms, which are reviewed in this article. On the mostly used Cu substrate, graphene growth is found to be more complicated than a simple adsorption-dehydrogenation-growth model. Growth on Ni surface is precipitation dominated. On surfaces with a large lattice mismatch to graphene, epitaxial geometry determin a robust nonlinear growth behavior. Further progresses in understanding graphene growth mechanisms is expected with intense theoretical studies using advanced simulation techniques, which will make a guided design of growth protocols practical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
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Wang Y, Page AJ, Li HB, Qian HJ, Jiao MG, Wu ZJ, Morokuma K, Irle S. Step-edge self-assembly during graphene nucleation on a nickel surface: QM/MD simulations. NANOSCALE 2014; 6:140-144. [PMID: 24202187 DOI: 10.1039/c3nr04694j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulations of graphene nucleation on the Ni(111) surface show that graphene creates its own step-edge as it forms. This "step-edge self-assembly" is driven by the formation of thermodynamically favorable Ni-C σ-bonds at the graphene edge. This dynamic aspect of the Ni(111) catalyst is in contrast to the commonly accepted view that graphene nucleates on a pre-existing, static catalyst step-edge. Simulations also show that, simply by manipulating the subsurface carbon density, preferential formation of single-layer graphene instead of multi-layer graphene can be achieved on nickel catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
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Li HB, Page AJ, Hettich C, Aradi B, Köhler C, Frauenheim T, Irle S, Morokuma K. Graphene nucleation on a surface-molten copper catalyst: quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulations. Chem Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4sc00491d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular simulations reveal how graphene grows on copper surfaces, and that defects in the graphene structure are continually removed by mobile copper atoms in the surface layer of the catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Bei Li
- School of Ocean
- Shandong University
- Weihai 264209, China
- Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry
- Kyoto University
| | - Alister J. Page
- Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources
- The University of Newcastle
- Callaghan 2308, Australia
| | - Christian Hettich
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science
- University of Bremen
- Bremen, Germany
| | - Bálint Aradi
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science
- University of Bremen
- Bremen, Germany
| | - Christof Köhler
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science
- University of Bremen
- Bremen, Germany
| | - Thomas Frauenheim
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science
- University of Bremen
- Bremen, Germany
| | - Stephan Irle
- WPI-Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) & Department of Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science
- Nagoya University
- Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Keiji Morokuma
- Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry
- Kyoto University
- Kyoto, Japan
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Elliott JA, Shibuta Y, Amara H, Bichara C, Neyts EC. Atomistic modelling of CVD synthesis of carbon nanotubes and graphene. NANOSCALE 2013; 5:6662-6676. [PMID: 23774798 DOI: 10.1039/c3nr01925j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We discuss the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene by catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) and plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD), summarising the state-of-the-art understanding of mechanisms controlling their growth rate, chiral angle, number of layers (walls), diameter, length and quality (defects), before presenting a new model for 2D nucleation of a graphene sheet from amorphous carbon on a nickel surface. Although many groups have modelled this process using a variety of techniques, we ask whether there are any complementary ideas emerging from the different proposed growth mechanisms, and whether different modelling techniques can give the same answers for a given mechanism. Subsequently, by comparing the results of tight-binding, semi-empirical molecular orbital theory and reactive bond order force field calculations, we demonstrate that graphene on crystalline Ni(111) is thermodynamically stable with respect to the corresponding amorphous metal and carbon structures. Finally, we show in principle how a complementary heterogeneous nucleation step may play a key role in the transformation from amorphous carbon to graphene on the metal surface. We conclude that achieving the conditions under which this complementary crystallisation process can occur may be a promising method to gain better control over the growth processes of both graphene from flat metal surfaces and CNTs from catalyst nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Elliott
- Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK.
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Shibuta Y, Arifin R, Shimamura K, Oguri T, Shimojo F, Yamaguchi S. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of dissociation of methane on nickel(111) surface: Unravelling initial stage of graphene growth via a CVD technique. Chem Phys Lett 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2013.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Tang X, Xie Z, Yin T, Wang JW, Yang P, Huang Q. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of carbon nanofiber nucleation: the effect of carbon concentration in Ni carbide. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:16314-20. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp52972j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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