DFT study of “unlayered graphene solid” formation, in liquid carbon droplets at low pressures

This atomistic modeling study is companion to new experimental work on carbon vapor slow-cooled in (a) the laboratory and (b) the atmosphere of ancient carbon-synthesizing stars. It specifically follows up on TEM clues about the nucleation of unlayered graphene sheets in a solidifying carbon liquid, to show that 5 atom loops may help explain evidence for faceted pentacones in a slow-cooled melt. This is also first in a series of modeling studies that may open the door to laboratory studies of (i) condensation in cool-giant star atmospheres and (ii) liquid carbon at low pressures. Graphic abstract

Effects of Annealing Parameters on Epitaxial Graphene on SiC Substrates

The effects of annealing on epitaxial graphene on SiC substrates with various conditions are investigated. Results show that high pressure hydrogen atmosphere is more effective to decouple the epitaxial graphene from SiC substrate than that of a relative lower pressure process. Besides, the characteristic 2D-peak of graphene in Raman spectra disappeared with an annealing temperature 1000 °C, which means that the epitaxial graphene layer was decomposed in this condition. The study also shows that the decomposition of graphene can be effectively suppressed by increasing carbon vapor partial pressure through introducing ethylene during high pressure hydrogen annealing at 1000 °C. And the epitaxial graphene is successfully transferred to quasi free standing graphene by the annealing with an appropriate flow of ethylene.