University of Texas, Austin

The goal is to enable large-scale fabrication of graphene/ultrathin graphite (‘G/UG’) films/foils. The influence of structure and particularly grain boundaries on the physical properties of such foils will be elucidated. Studies on processing (delaminating, cutting, folding, laminating with other films, making fiber strips, wetting, etc.) will accelerate the use of these new materials in existing applications and foster innovation in new applications. A new method of heating the metal substrates that G/UG films grow on will be implemented and optimized to produce material with minimum defects, largest grains and best grain boundaries. Optimized G/UG foils are not expected to be brittle and their specific strengths may far exceed those of any materials now available. This will motivate their use in new structural applications, as well as in thermal management, as compliant transparent conductive electrodes, in nanoelectronics (the carrier mobility in graphene is very high), in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems as actuators, strain gauges, pressure sensors and others. Applications will be realized through active collaborations and an ensuing effort will help to ensure benefit to society through the eventual factory-level production of G/UG materials.