Edge-feeding synchronous epitaxy of layer-controlled graphene films on heterogeneous catalytic substrates

Buhang Chen, Xiongzhi Zeng, Zhetong Liu, Wenlong Dong, Ding Pei, Huan Wang, Yanyan Dong, Chengjin Wu, Xiaoyin Gao, Hanbo Xiao, Han Gao, Hang Jia, Aiheng Yuan, Jinlong Du, Heng Chen, Haiyang Liu, Congwei Tan, Jianbo Yin, Zhongkai Liu, Luqi Liu, Peng Gao, Kostya S. Novoselov, Hailin Peng, Zhenyu Li (), Luzhao Sun () and Zhongfan Liu ()
Additional contact information
Buhang Chen: Soochow University
Xiongzhi Zeng: University of Science and Technology of China
Zhetong Liu: Peking University
Wenlong Dong: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Ding Pei: ShanghaiTech University
Huan Wang: Beijing Graphene Institute
Yanyan Dong: Beijing Graphene Institute
Chengjin Wu: Soochow University
Xiaoyin Gao: Beijing Graphene Institute
Hanbo Xiao: ShanghaiTech University
Han Gao: ShanghaiTech University
Hang Jia: Beijing Graphene Institute
Aiheng Yuan: Beijing Graphene Institute
Jinlong Du: Peking University
Heng Chen: Beijing Graphene Institute
Haiyang Liu: Beijing Graphene Institute
Congwei Tan: Peking University
Jianbo Yin: Peking University
Zhongkai Liu: ShanghaiTech University
Luqi Liu: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Peng Gao: Peking University
Kostya S. Novoselov: National University of Singapore
Hailin Peng: Beijing Graphene Institute
Zhenyu Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Luzhao Sun: Beijing Graphene Institute
Zhongfan Liu: Soochow University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Compared with single-layer two-dimensional (2D) materials, bilayer, trilayer, and few-layer 2D materials exhibit enhanced band structure tunability, improved electrical and thermal properties, and superior mechanical strength and barrier performance. However, the layer-controlled synthesis of 2D films with high layer number uniformity remains challenging, due to the difficulty in the additional layer nucleation and the effective realization of layer-by-layer growth. Herein, we report an edge-feeding synchronous epitaxial growth mode breaking the limit of traditional epitaxy theories. An efficient heterogeneous Cu–Cu2O catalyst is demonstrated, where graphene edge-surrounding Cu2O is crucial in precursor dissociation, atomic carbon diffusion, and edge energy reduction. The synchronous growth method can be generalized to the layer-controlled synthesis of 2–7-layer graphene films. Relying on this growth strategy, we successfully achieved the industrial-scale production of homogeneous A3-sized ABA-trilayer graphene films (42 × 30 square centimeters) with good mechanical properties and peeling-transferring intactness. Our method offers a robust strategy for the layer-controlled synthesis of 2D material films.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60323-1

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