Hybrid copper / graphene nanowires

As published by Phys.org - A new process for coating copper nanowires with graphene has been published by Purdue University - an ultrathin layer of carbon – lowers resistance and heating, suggesting potential applications in computer chips and flexible displays.

Until now it has been difficult to coat copper nanowires with graphene because the process requires chemical vapor deposition at temperatures of about 1,000 degrees Celsius, which degrades copper thin films and small-dimension wires. The researchers have developed a new process that can be performed at about 650 degrees Celsius, preserving the small wires intact, using a procedure called plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-03-hybrid-nanowires-eyed-flexible.html#jCp

This illustration depicts a copper nanowire coated with graphene - an ultrathin layer of carbon - which lowers resistance and heating, suggesting potential applications in computer chips and flexible displays. Credit: Purdue University graphic