I-Corps: Pilot Production Of Large Area Uniform Single-Crystal Graphene Films

该创新团队项目将探索生产高质量，均匀的大面积石墨烯薄膜的商业可行性，将之前NSF资助的基础研究所产生的知识转化为新产品。该团队提交了一项低成本、大规模石墨烯合成技术的专利申请，其主要优势包括：1）合成过程中不需要真空和高温，因此能够实现灵活、经济的设计和操作; 2）石墨烯薄膜尺寸不受炉尺寸的限制，并提出了卷对卷处理概念; 3）生产具有高电子质量（大晶粒尺寸、高载流子迁移率、低薄层电阻）的石墨烯膜;以及4）容易修改为工业规模的连续生产方法。 该项目将实现的概念验证演示是生产一种超紧凑、低功耗的蒸汽传感器设备，用于灵敏和选择性地检测呼吸中的乙醇。这将反映石墨烯的载流子迁移率将超过5000 cm 2/V-s的事实，这是适合于许多下一代电子应用的水平。该项目的成功完成将导致对该技术的明确决定，以及在适当情况下向市场进行商业过渡的计划。石墨烯是一种新兴的“超级材料”，有许多拟议的应用，包括用于触摸屏显示器和太阳能系统的柔性透明导体;用于通信的高频电子产品;以及用于医疗诊断、食品和水纯度分析以及环境监测的先进传感器，所有这些都是实时的。因此，工业数量的高质量“晶圆级”石墨烯材料的可用性将使商业界能够开发这些应用和其他应用，并为社会带来巨大的潜在利益。与竞争概念相比，所提出的技术将具有成本、质量和设计灵活性方面的优势。I-Corps项目的成功完成将使技术从实验室过渡到市场。

This Innovation-Corps project will explore the commercial feasibility of production of high quality, uniform large-area graphene films, translating into new products the knowledge that resulted from prior NSF-funded fundamental studies. The team submitted for patent a low cost, large-scale graphene synthesis technology with key advantages including: 1) no need for vacuum and high temperature during synthesis, thus enabling flexible, economical design and operation; 2) graphene film size not limited by furnace dimension with the proposed roll-to-roll processing concept; 3) production of graphene films with high electronic quality (large grain size, high carrier mobility, low sheet resistance); and 4) a continuous production method that is easily modified to industrial scale. The proof-of-concept demonstration to be achieved by this project is production of an ultra-compact, low power vapor sensor device for sensitive and selective detection of ethanol in breath. This will reflect the fact that the carrier mobility of the graphene will exceed 5000 cm2/V-s, a level suitable for numerous next-generation electronic applications. Successful completion of the project will result in a clear go/no go decision on the technology and a plan for commercial transition to market if appropriate.Graphene is an emerging "super material" with numerous proposed applications including flexible transparent conductors for touch screen displays and solar energy systems; high frequency electronics for communications; and advanced sensors for medical diagnostics, analysis of food and water purity, and environmental monitoring, all in real-time. Availability of high quality "wafer-scale" graphene material in industrial quantities will thus enable the development of these applications and others by the business community, with substantial potential benefit to society. The technology proposed will have advantages of cost, quality, and design flexibility over competing concepts. Successful completion of this I-Corps project will enable technology transition from the lab to the market place.