Structural evolution and growth mechanism of graphene domains on copper foil by ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition

► Time-dependent structural evolution of graphene domains grows on Cu foil by using ambient pressure CVD. ► Hexagonal-shaped, single crystal of few-layer graphene domains up to 10 μm is obtained. ► C-Cu alloyed nanoparticles as the intermediates supply carbon species for the growth of graphene domains. ► Surface adsorption combined with an epitaxial growth procedure is proposed to explain graphene grown on Cu foil herein.