Synthesis of Edge-Closed Graphene Ribbons with Enhanced Conductivity

Edge-closed and edge-opened graphene ribbons were synthesized on Pd nanowire templates using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). After metal nanowire etching, the tubular shaped thin graphene layers were collapsed to edge-closed graphene ribbon. In order to make edge-opened graphene ribbons, the graphene layers on the top part of the metal nanowire were selectively etched by O-2 plasma. The protected graphene layers at the bottom of nanowire are transformed to edge-opened graphene ribbon after nanowire etching. Because of defect-free edges, edge-closed graphene ribbon showed reduced D-band intensity compared to edge-opened graphene ribbons, and moreover, the conductivity of edge-closed graphene ribbon was much higher than that of edge-opened graphene ribbon.