US Patent 7790242 - Electrostatic deposition of graphene

http://ip.com/patent/US7790242

In order to produce single layer graphene sheets the "scotch tape" method has been employed to mechanically separate a layer from pyrolytic graphite. Some epitaxial techniques have also been used but result in multilayer graphene sheets. This patent from the University of Louisville Research Foundation teaches an alternative technique based on electrostatic deposition of graphene which may be easier for mass production. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for electrostatic deposition of graphene on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

securing a graphite sample to a first electrode;

electrically connecting the first electrode to a positive terminal of a power source;

electrically connecting a second electrode to a ground terminal of the power source;

placing the substrate over the second electrode; and

using the power source to apply a voltage, such that graphene is removed from the graphite sample and deposited on the substrate.