A simplified single-step process for graphene fabrication has been developed by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).

The GraphAir synthesis scheme eliminates the use of compressed gases or chemical vapor deposition CSIRO Scientist Dr. Dong Han Seo holds a piece of graphene film. Credit: CSIROtechniques.

Instead, soybean oil, ambient air, and inexpensive polycrystalline nickel foil are used to produce graphene film. Soybean oil is heated to around 800 °C (1470 °F) in a sealed quartz tube for approximately 25 minutes, followed by a rapid cooling period. Growth of graphene occurs through a combination of surface-mediated growth on the Ni foil and precipitation from dissolved species when the sample is cooled.

The functionality of the graphene films was demonstrated through its direct integration as an electrochemical biosensor, in which sensitive and selective bio-detection was realized.

Researchers from The University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, and The Queensland University of Technology also contributed to this work.