Transparent heaters based on CVD grown few-layer graphene

The outstanding thermal and optical properties of graphene make it tremendously interesting as heating elements. In this work, we demonstrate few-layer graphene as heating elements on glass substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method combined with a layer-by-layer transfer process. The electrothermal performance was studied in terms of applied voltage, heating/cooling rate and input power density. The results show that a three-layer graphene film heater can reach an equilibrium temperature up to 102 degrees C and a maximum heating rate of 1.8 degrees C/s when 60 V voltage was applied. Simulations were further performed to rationalize the experimental results, in which the effect of heat transfer coefficient, electric conductivity, and the effective stress distribution was discussed. It was found that the adhesion between graphene and substrate is very important for the heat performance, especially at high temperatures. Our results indicate that graphene-based films are promising candidate materials for the next generation of transparent heating elements.

Automated summary

Graphene displayed excellent electrothermal performance as heating elements on glass substrates, with the adhesion between graphene and substrate being crucial, especially at high temperatures. Simulations helped rationalize the experimental results, indicating that graphene-based films are promising materials for the next generation of transparent heating elements.