WiSys Technologies

Atmospheric Growth of Vertically Oriented Graphene

WiSys Technology Number: T130004US02
Patent Filed: September 7, 2012
Status
Patent Pending
Stage of Development:

Proof of concept testing

OVERVIEW

Nano-carbon based hybrid materials possess extraordinary properties and show great promise for improved efficiency and sensitivity in a wide range of applications including capacitors, sensors, transparent conductors and corona discharge electrodes. Increasing the rate of adoption of these materials is dependent on cost effective large scale production methods of application tailored materials. Current methods used for carbon nanomaterial fabrication are energy intense, high cost and low yield vacuum or microwave assisted plasma deposition. There is a great need for lower cost atmospheric pressure based deposition methods to make new materials cost competitive with established materials.


THE INVENTION

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee have developed an atmospheric pressure based deposition method to produce vertically oriented graphene nanosheets, two-dimensional ‘graphitic’ platelets standing vertically on silicon, stainless steel and copper substrates. The resulting product shows increased surface area compared to traditional horizontally oriented graphene structures. Early data shows improved performance when compared to existing materials. Early research has shown the method to be amenable to continuous production.


APPLICATIONS

  • Capacitors
  • Lithium ion batteries
  • Corona discharge electrodes
  • Room temperature gas sensors
  • Photovoltaics
  • Displays
  • Other Transparent conductor applications


KEY BENEFITS

  • Atmospheric pressure production
  • Improved performance compared to horizontally oriented graphene
  • Amenable to continuous production
Inventors
Junhong Chen
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Ganhua Lu
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering