We would like to grow graphene on nickel foil and would like to know if multilayer graphene films can be produced and transferred onto our own substrates.
Why Grow Graphene on Nickel Foil?
Graphene grown on nickel foil is widely used for research involving multilayer graphene, electronic devices, sensors, energy storage, and nanomaterials. Nickel serves as an excellent catalyst during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) because it allows more carbon to dissolve into the metal during growth. As the material cools, carbon precipitates from the nickel surface to form graphene films, often resulting in multiple graphene layers.
A research client requested the following:
UniversityWafer Response:
The thickness of the graphene film can be tailored for multilayer applications by stacking two or more monolayer graphene films or by controlling the CVD growth process. We also offer custom graphene transfer services onto compatible customer-supplied substrates.
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How We Produce CVD Graphene
Our graphene is synthesized using the CVD process, where methane serves as the carbon source and a thin metal foil acts as the catalyst. Following graphene growth, the catalyst foil is removed, and the graphene film is transferred to the desired substrate using a controlled PMMA-assisted wet transfer process.
Depending on the application, graphene can be transferred onto silicon wafers, sapphire, glass, quartz, fused silica, polymers, or other compatible materials.
Nickel vs. Copper for Graphene Growth
Nickel and copper are the two most common catalysts used for CVD graphene growth, but they produce different film structures.
- Nickel foil typically produces multilayer graphene because carbon readily dissolves into nickel during growth.
- Copper foil generally produces uniform monolayer graphene due to its much lower carbon solubility.
- The cooling rate, methane concentration, and growth temperature all influence the final graphene thickness and crystal quality.
Can Graphene Stop a Bullet?
A researcher once asked whether CVD graphene sheets could be used to manufacture bullet-resistant armor.
I am interested in graphene sheets approximately 12" × 12" for a bullet-resistant vest. Can CVD graphene withstand bullet impact?
UniversityWafer Response:
Although graphene has extraordinary mechanical strength at the atomic scale, a single CVD graphene layer is only about 0.34 nanometers thick and cannot stop ballistic impacts by itself. For structural and protective applications, researchers typically investigate graphene oxide or graphene-reinforced polymer composites rather than individual graphene films.
CVD Graphene Deposited on Nickel Foil
Graphene Grown on Nickel Foil
Graphene grown on nickel foil is typically synthesized using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), one of the most reliable methods for producing large-area graphene films. Nickel serves as a catalyst that allows carbon atoms from methane or other hydrocarbon gases to dissolve into the metal during growth. As the substrate cools, the dissolved carbon precipitates onto the surface, forming one or more graphene layers.
Because carbon is considerably more soluble in nickel than in copper, graphene grown on nickel generally produces multilayer graphene rather than a single atomic layer. This makes nickel an excellent choice for researchers studying graphene thickness, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and graphene-based composite materials.
How CVD Graphene is Grown
During the CVD process, nickel foil is heated inside a reaction chamber while methane, hydrogen, and inert carrier gases are introduced under carefully controlled conditions. The methane decomposes at elevated temperatures, releasing carbon atoms that diffuse into the nickel catalyst. Controlled cooling allows these carbon atoms to migrate back to the surface where they crystallize into graphene.
The final graphene quality depends on several process parameters, including:
- Growth temperature
- Cooling rate
- Methane concentration
- Hydrogen flow rate
- Nickel foil purity
- Surface roughness of the catalyst
- Growth pressure
- Annealing conditions
Optimizing these variables allows researchers to tailor graphene thickness, grain size, defect density, and electrical performance for specific applications.
Nickel vs. Copper for Graphene Growth
Nickel and copper are the two most widely used catalysts for CVD graphene synthesis. Although both metals support graphene growth, they produce significantly different film structures.
| Property | Nickel Foil | Copper Foil |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Solubility | High | Very Low |
| Typical Graphene | Multilayer | Monolayer |
| Growth Mechanism | Carbon Precipitation | Surface Catalysis |
| Best For | Multilayer Graphene Research | Large-Area Monolayer Graphene |
Researchers select the catalyst based on the desired graphene structure. Copper is preferred when a uniform monolayer is required, while nickel is often chosen for multilayer graphene and applications requiring increased conductivity or mechanical robustness.
Advantages of Graphene on Nickel Foil
- Excellent catalyst for CVD graphene growth
- Suitable for multilayer graphene production
- Large-area graphene synthesis
- Compatible with wet transfer techniques
- Excellent electrical conductivity
- High mechanical strength
- Good thermal stability
- Scalable manufacturing process
- Supports research and pilot-scale production
Graphene Transfer Process
After graphene growth, the nickel catalyst is generally removed using a wet chemical etching process. A temporary support layer, often polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), protects the graphene film while the nickel foil is dissolved. The graphene can then be transferred onto the final substrate before the support layer is removed.
Common transfer substrates include:
- Silicon wafers
- Silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
- Quartz substrates
- Sapphire substrates
- Glass
- Flexible polymers
- Ceramics
- Customer-supplied substrates
Characterizing Graphene Films
Following growth and transfer, graphene films are typically characterized to verify their quality and determine their structural and electrical properties.
Common characterization methods include:
- Raman spectroscopy
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
- X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
- Sheet resistance measurements
- Optical microscopy
Among these techniques, Raman spectroscopy is the most widely used because it quickly identifies the number of graphene layers, crystal quality, and defect density.
Applications of Graphene on Nickel Foil
Graphene synthesized on nickel foil is used across numerous research fields due to its unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties.
- Flexible electronics
- Transparent conductive electrodes
- Microelectronics
- Graphene transistors
- Energy storage devices
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Supercapacitors
- Hydrogen generation research
- Gas and biosensors
- Wearable electronics
- Electromagnetic shielding
- Nanomaterials research
- Photonic devices
- Optoelectronics
- Composite materials
Custom Graphene Transfer Services
UniversityWafer provides graphene films and custom graphene transfer services for universities, government laboratories, and industrial researchers. We can transfer graphene onto customer-supplied substrates or recommend suitable silicon, sapphire, quartz, or glass substrates based on your research requirements.
When requesting a quote, include the desired substrate material, dimensions, graphene layer requirements, surface finish, transfer method, and quantity. Our engineering team can help identify the most suitable graphene solution for your application.