Synthesis of few-layer graphene over gold nanoclusters supported on MgO

We present the successful design and synthesis of few-layer graphenes over an Au/MgO catalytic system by chemical vapor deposition with methane as the carbon source. The resulting structures were composed of a few graphitic layers, and the highest synthesis yield was found to be 62% when the methane flow rate was 120 mL/min. The dimension of the in-plane crystallites was found to increase with the reaction time. A simple purification step was used to remove the MgO support that resulted in graphene sheets decorated with Au nanoparticles. Such an approach makes it possible to synthesize high purity Au-graphene nanostructured composites by using a single reaction step and without the need for additional functionalization or attachment. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.