This room temperature method, instead takes the easily grown graphene-on-copper and in a single-step (they claim) etch and transfer the graphene circuitry to nearly any substrate, including the flexible polymer substrates of the future. Their trick: cutting the circuit patterns into a simple shadow mask.
“Desired micro-patterns are designed by a computer-aided design [CAD] software, enabling a commercial laser cutter interfaced to the computer to fabricate a shadow mask accordingly,” doctoral candidate Keong Yong, from Professor SungWoo Nam’s research group, told EE Times. “These rapid design iterations and pattern replications are facilitated by the quick turnover of the laser cutter to pattern low-cost polymer and metal sheets.”
Once cut, the shadow mask is placed over the CVD-deposited graphene on copper foil, then etched using an oxygen plasma. The patterned graphene is then transferred onto a flexible substrate using a lamination process that ensures conformal contact and allows the copper foil to then be etched away.
“Due to this facile approach, our method reduces the total fabrication steps and time by eliminating the need for an intricate conventional micro-fabrication process as well as the need for a polymeric scaffold,” Yong told EE Times. “More importantly, our polymer-free approach promotes cleaner graphene.”
Right now there is no limitation on how big a graphene chip could be fabricated using their method, but there is a limit on how fine the shadow mask can be etched. To complete with silicon processing the shadow mask process has a ways to go, being confined to the micron range today, rather than nanometer range of silicon circuits today.
“We have demonstrated the capability of our facile approach to realize various graphene array patterns with different sizes, including lines, letters, and circles down to 50 microns,” Yong told us.
Next the researchers aim to downsize their shadow masks and to build real devices to prove the concept that working graphene circuitry can indeed be fabricated in labs that cost thousands of dollars to equip rather than the billions required today, according to Yong.
Other contributors included post-doctoral researcher Pilgyu Kang and Ali Ashraf who has since graduated and now works at Intel.
For more detail: Graphene Patterned at Room Temp
About The Author
Ibrar Ayyub
I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.
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