|
영어로 읽는 과학기사 Korean researchers are drawing keen attention by developing a method for the mass production of Graphene, known as a new dream material, at ordinary temperature.
The study, led by Prof. Lee Hyo-young of SungKyunKwan University, was conducted with support from the Leading Research Support Program(Creative Research) implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(Lee Ju-ho, Minister) and the Korea Research Foundation (Park Chan-mo, Chairman). The study was published on September 22 in the early online edition of ‘Nature Communications’, a sister journal of the journal Nature.
Graphene is a hexagonal carbon compound, carries electrons at speeds over 100 times faster than silicon, and does not break or rupture, even when bended or twisted. Moreover, it can stream 100 times more currents than copper, and is twice as strong as diamond, thus allowing for the production of semiconductors hundreds of times faster than conventional chips. Hence, it is widely studied as a next-generation material for electronic parts. Notably, the material is highly sought after as a “new dream material”, allowing for the production of computer monitors that are as thin as a cellophane sheet, mobile handsets that are wearable like a watch, and computers that can be carried in a wallet like paper.
Prof. Lee’s team presented the possibility of the production of large quantities of impurity-free, high-quality Graphene through production processes at ordinary temperatures by using a reducing agent(hydriodic acid, HI). Notably, this method can be applied not only to circuit boards that are made from hard substances such as silicon, but also to flexible plastic circuit boards.
Thus far, four different methods have been available for production of Graphene: the Scotch tape method, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, the Expitaxial method that uses a silicon carbide insulator, and a chemical method that uses reductant. Of these, the method using reductant allows for mass production, but has had the shortfall of degrading quality, including residual impurities, when compared with the three other techniques.
Overcoming shortfalls of conventional methods, including high temperature, impurities
Far-reaching research efforts have been conducted on reductant to overcome these shortfalls. Among such efforts, the hydrazine method was widely used, but it entailed a high-temperature (120 degree Celsius) processing and left impurities (nitrogen), among other problems.
However, Lee’s team succeeded in synthesizing high-quality Graphene that is effectively free from impurities at ordinary temperatures(40 degrees Celsius), which is a far lower temperature range than that of the conventional hydrazine method.
Experts say the study has opened up the possibility for mass production in Korea of high-quality Graphene, which has only been produced by several U.S. companies thus far. The Korean research team has applied for domestic patents, and is taking steps to apply for overseas patents in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan, while considering technology transfer in the future.
In explaining the significance of his study, Prof. Lee said, “Graphene is expected to not only drastically enhance the data processing speed of semiconductors, which has not been increasing with conventional silicon, but to also play a major role in diverse fields, including ultrahigh-speed semiconductors and high-performance solar cells.”
Lee added, “Since the study has allowed Korea to mass produce Graphene in unlimited quantities, the country has laid the foundation to emerge as a powerhouse of the next-generation electronic materials industry.”
[한글 기사 보기] | 
저작권자 2010.10.21 ⓒ ScienceTimes
