Functionalizing CVD Graphene using SDS to Enable Deposition of Nanoparticles
Student: Brad Martsching
Major Professor: Dr. David Huitink
Research Area(s):
Microelectronics
Nanoscience & Engineering
Background/Relevance
- Graphene is a 2-D carbon allotrope with a one-atom thick planar sheet of sp2-bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice structure.
- Graphene’s has many intrinsic properties, such as electric conductivity and mechanical strength.
Innovation
- In order to maintain Graphene’s intrinsic properties we Functionalize it with a non-covalant surfactant SDS allowing for the deposition of nanoparticles.
- Allowing for the creation of a more sensitive hydrogen sensor.
Approach
- We used AFM imaging to compare topographical images of graphene samples from “Company A” before (figure 1a) and after (Figure 1b) functionalization.
- To functionalize the graphene we used Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate of 1% concentration by weight for 1 hour.
- We also used Raman Spectroscopy on the graphene sample before SDS (Figure1c).
Key Results
- Figure 2a and Figure 2b show 3D models of the earlier presented AFM images before and after SDS.
- A careful study of many of the graphene samples indicates that the samples have heights of the order of micro-meters as opposed to subnanometer.
Conclusions
- The Raman Spectroscopy (Figure 1c) indicates that there are impurities in the graphene.
- Figure 3a and Figure 3b show AFM image and 3D model of new samples from “Company B”
- Switching to samples from “Company B” we determined that we are ready to functionalize them and add nanoparticles.
