Engineered defects make stronger graphene

In a landmark study published today in Chemical Science, researchers have unveiled a novel method for engineering graphene with controlled structural defects, an innovation that could revolutionise applications in electronics, sensors, and energy storage.

The breakthrough was achieved through a collaboration between the University of Nottingham’s School of Chemistry, the University of Warwick, and Diamond Light Source. Using Diamond’s advanced microscopy and spectroscopy capabilities, scientists developed a single-step process to grow graphene-like films from a molecule called Azupyrene, which naturally mimics the defect structure they aimed to introduce.

David Duncan, Associate Professor from the University of Nottingham was one of the lead authors on the study, said: “Our study explores a new way to make graphene, this super-thin, super-strong material is made of carbon atoms, and while perfect graphene is remarkable, it is sometimes too perfect. It interacts weakly with other materials and lacks crucial electronic properties required in the semiconductor industry. 

“Usually defects in material are seen as problems or mistakes that reduce performance, we have used them intentionally to add functionality. We found the defects can make the graphene more “sticky” to other materials, making it more useful as a catalyst, as well as improving its capability of detecting different gases for use in sensors. The defects can also alter the electronic and magnetic properties of the graphene, for potential applications in the semiconductor industry.” 

Graphene is made up of a flat tiling of six carbon atoms in a ring. The team discovered that these defects - rings of five and seven carbon atoms - could be precisely embedded into the graphene structure by adjusting the temperature during growth. This control opens new possibilities for tailoring graphene’s electronic and magnetic properties for use in semiconductors.