Key growth parameters affecting the domain structure of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene on nickel

The domain structures of multilayer graphene grown on Ni using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process were characterized using an optical birefringence visualization method. Unlike graphene grown on Cu, the Ni surface topography, rather than the Ni crystal orientation, significantly influenced the graphene domain size and structure. Smoother surfaces yielded larger domains. The graphene domains in the inner layers closer to the substrate in multilayer graphene were smaller than the outer layers on the top surface.