Patent ID: 9206509
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: C23C,C30B

Abstract:
1. A controlled graphene film growth process comprising: depositing a layer of metal on a surface of a substrate, wherein the metal of the metal layer is selected in response to the solubility of carbon in the metal; exposing the layer of metal to a controlled flux of carbon atoms or carbon-containing radicals or carbon-containing ions at a first temperature disposed along a phase diagram of the metal in order to raise the concentration of carbon in the layer of metal to a molar concentration threshold ratio C increasing the carbon concentration in the metal/carbon layer by continuing to expose the metal/carbon layer to the controlled flux of carbon atoms or carbon-containing radicals or carbon-containing ions at the first temperature to modify the phase of the mixture into two phases, a metal phase and a graphite phase, wherein the carbon initially diffuses into the metal/carbon layer and then precipitates in response to the carbon concentration increasing above the molar concentration threshold ratio C eliminating the upper graphene film; and eliminating the layer of metal.