Ultrafast growth of uniform multi-layer graphene films directly on silicon dioxide substrates

To realize the applications of graphene in electronics, a large-scale, high-quality, and uniform graphene film should first be placed on the dielectric substrates. Challenges still remain with respect to the current methods for the synthesis graphene directly on the dielectric substrates via chemical vapor deposition, such as a low growth rate and poor quality. Herein, we present an ultrafast method for direct growth of uniform graphene on a silicon dioxide (SiO₂ /Si) substrate using methanol as the only carbon source. A 1 × 1 cm² SiO₂/Si substrate square was almost fully covered with graphene within 5 min, resulting in a record growth rate of ~33.6 µm/s. This outcome is attributed to the quick pyrolysis of methanol, with the help of trace copper atoms. The as-grown graphene exhibited a highly uniform thickness, with a sheet resistance of 0.9–1.2 kΩ/sq and a hole mobility of up to 115.4 cm² /V·s in air at room temperature. It would be quite suitable for transparent conductive electrodes in electrophoretic displays and may be interesting for related industrial applications.