Direct dry transfer of chemical vapor deposition graphene to polymeric substrates

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for directly transferring large-area CVD graphene onto various polymers using heat and pressure, with interface control being key to transfer quality, resulting in strong adhesion.

Contribution

The study introduces a dry transfer technique for graphene onto polymers that simplifies the process and enhances adhesion, differing from traditional wet transfer methods.

Findings

Successful transfer of graphene onto multiple polymers.

Transfer quality controlled by tuning experimental conditions.

Graphene-polymer adhesion exceeds that to Si/SiO2 substrates.

Abstract

We demonstrate the direct dry transfer of large area Chemical Vapor Deposition graphene to several polymers (low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polystyrene, polylactide acid and poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) by means of only moderate heat and pressure, and the later mechanical peeling of the original graphene substrate. Simulations of the graphene-polymer interactions, rheological tests and graphene transfer at various experimental conditions show that controlling the graphene-polymer interface is the key to controlling graphene transfer. Raman spectroscopy and Optical Microscopy were used to identify and quantify graphene transferred to the polymer substrates. The results showed that the amount of graphene transferred to the polymer, from no-graphene to full graphene transfers, can be achieved by fine tuning the transfer conditions. As a result of the direct dry transfer technique, the graphene-polymer adhesion being stronger than graphene to Si/SiO2 wafer.