Pulsed laser deposition of carbon nanomaterials

Nanostructured graphite and few-layer graphene (FLG) have been grown on copper and silicon substrates via pulsed laser deposition (PLD). This paper provides a parametric study of different experimental parameters and how they affect the resulting film growth in an effort to develop a better understanding of the underlying growth mechanisms of carbon nanostructures. The nanostructured order of the deposited films increases as the temperature of the substrate increases. The wavelength of the laser used affects the ablation of the carbon source, with lower wavelengths causing further breakdown of the carbon species. The carbon source and deposition pressure have interdependent effects which are explored, and the different substrates used affect the quality and morphology of the films.