Unraveling the Water Impermeability Discrepancy in CVD‐Grown Graphene. Issue 30 (11th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kwak, Jinsung; Kim, Se‐Yang; Jo, Yongsu; Kim, Na Yeon; Kim, Sung Youb; Lee, Zonghoon; Kwon, Soon‐Yong
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 30:Issue 30(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-06-11
• Subjects: chemical vapor deposition -- flexible barrier film -- graphene wrinkles -- site‐selective passivation -- water impermeability; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Graphene has recently attracted particular interest as a flexible barrier film preventing permeation of gases and moistures. However, it has been proved to be exceptionally challenging to develop large‐scale graphene films with little oxygen and moisture permeation suitable for industrial uses, mainly due to the presence of nanometer‐sized defects of obscure origins. Here, the origins of water permeable routes on graphene‐coated Cu foils are investigated by observing the micrometer‐sized rusts in the underlying Cu substrates, and a site‐selective passivation method of the nanometer‐sized routes is devised. It is revealed that nanometer‐sized holes or cracks are primarily concentrated on graphene wrinkles rather than on other structural imperfections, resulting in severe degradation of its water impermeability. They are found to be predominantly induced by the delamination of graphene bound to Cu as a release of thermal stress during the cooling stage after graphene growth, especially at the intersection of the Cu step edges and wrinkles owing to their higher adhesion energy. Furthermore, the investigated routes are site‐selectively passivated by an electron‐beam‐induced amorphous carbon layer, thus a substantial improvement in water impermeability is achieved. This approach is likely to be extended for offering novel barrier properties in flexible films based on graphene and on other atomic crystals. Abstract : Water permeable routes concentrated on graphene wrinkles are predominantly induced by the delamination of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)‐grown graphene on Cu to release thermal stress during the CVD cooling stage, especially at the intersection of the Cu step edges and wrinkles owing to their higher adhesion energy. The investigated routes are site‐selectively passivated by an electron‐beam‐induced amorphous carbon layer.