US Patent 7887888 Methods and systems for fabrication of graphene nanoribbons

A method for fabricating graphene nanoribbons comprises the steps of providing a chamber with a first and a second cavity, which are separated by a divider that defines an opening to place the first cavity in fluid communication with the second cavity; positioning a graphite sample in the first cavity; positioning a container with a metal disposed therein in the second cavity; heating the container to expel a cloud of metal; injecting a gas into the second cavity to propel the cloud of metal through the opening and into the first cavity where it contacts the graphite sample to produce dislocation bands; removing the graphite sample from the chamber; and electrostatically depositing the dislocation bands on a substrate as graphene nanoribbons.