Real-time observation of graphene growth by radiation-mode optical microscopy

Abstract

Real-time observation of crystal growth provides valuable information on the elucidation of the growth mechanism and the way to control the growth itself. By observing the thermal emission of light from the heated substances we succeeded in distinguishing the growing graphene islands on a Cu substrate under a reactive gas atmosphere in real time, which we named radiation mode optical microscopy. We observed the growth and shrinkage of graphene in response to the switching on and off of the methane supply and the increase in the nucleation density and growth velocity in response to the switching off of the oxygen supply. We expect radiation-mode optical microscopy to be applicable to other cases of crystal growth at high temperatures in various atmospheres.