Large area few-layer graphene/graphite films as transparent thin conducting electrodes

By dissolving carbon atoms decomposed from methane in a metal substrate at high temperatures, large area uniform few-layer graphene (FLG)/graphite films were precipitated on metal surfaces upon cooling. The thickness could be controlled by varying the amount of carbon atoms in the metal. Such films were transferred to glass slides after dissolving the metal substrate in an aqueous solution of Fe(NO3)(3). Sheet resistances as low as 200 Omega/square with a transmittance of 85% were obtained from FLG films. The resistance and transmittance can be changed over one order of magnitude, making such films potentially useful for transparent thin conducting electrodes. c 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3220807]