Synthesis of uniform monolayer graphene on re-solidified copper from waste chicken fat by low pressure chemical vapor deposition

• Uniform monolayer graphene on re-solidified Cu substrate using waste chicken fat is demonstrated.
• The waste chicken fat containing fatty acid can decompose into a short hydrocarbon chains.
• Re-solidification process of Cu by annealing provides big grains of Cu (111) facet with smooth surface.
• Less wrinkles formation in the monolayer graphene on the smoother Cu surface was achieved.
• Fabrication of transparent electrode with low sheet resistance was achieved with the graphene film.

A technology for converting waste materials to high quality large-area monolayer graphene film can be significant and thereby obtaining high value-added product. Here, we revealed the transformation of waste chicken fat into uniform monolayer graphene film on re-solidified Cu by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique. The evolve gas analyzer-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (EGA-GC–MS) analysis of chicken fat oil showed that the free fatty acid in chicken oil decomposed into a short hydrocarbon chains which makes it favorable to use as a carbon precursor for graphene synthesis. Growth of uniform monolayer graphene film on the re-solidified Cu was confirmed by Raman mapping, where 2D to G peak intensity ratio (I2D/IG) is 3.0 at most of the area. Thus, the use of waste from poultry industry as a carbon source instead of commonly used hydrocarbon gas sources for graphene synthesis can be an approach for green nanotechnology.

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