Operando XRD Study for Mechanistic Insights into Catalytic Graphene Growth on Inorganic templates

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene frameworks produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of hydrocarbon gases on oxide templates combine high surface area, chemical stability, and flexibility, making them promising for energy and catalytic applications. To elucidate the underlying growth mechanism, this proposal seeks to clarify the decomposition pathways of methane (CH4) and acetylene (C2H2) during CVD by integrating high-resolution operando XRD with mass spectrometry. By simultaneously monitoring carbon phase formation and template transformations, we will establish how precursor identity and template composition govern graphene growth. Unlike conventional ex-situ methods, this combined approach provides direct mechanistic insight into hydrocarbon activation and oxide evolution. The resulting knowledge will enable new strategies for nanocarbon synthesis, particularly the controlled generation of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) under mild conditions