Facile synthesis of Ag interlayer doped graphene by chemical vapor deposition using polystyrene as solid carbon source.

Graphene was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using polystyrene as the solid carbon source. The number of graphene layers could be controlled by regulating the weight of polystyrene under atmospheric pressure at 1000 °C. Silver nanoparticles were then deposited on the graphene by a citrate reduction method. The interaction between graphene and silver was investigated by suface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The change in the G band position indicates n-type doping of the graphene due to an interaction between the silver and the graphene. Silver interlayer doped four-layer graphene shows a sheet resistance of 63 Ω/sq and a light transmittance of 85.4% at 550 nm. The optical and electrical quality of graphene exceeds the minimum industry standard for indium tin oxide replacement materials. It is clearly understood that the environmental sheet resistance stability of the interlayer doped graphene film is better than that of surface doped graphene sheets. The presence of graphene at the surface also acts as a protective layer for the inner silver ions and clusters.