Shear-induced dry transfer of reduced graphene oxide thin film via roll-to-roll printing

Here, we report a printing mechanism that utilizes mechanical stress for dry transfer of chemically reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) thin film. We discover that shear stress induced on the elastomeric stamp surface facilitates delamination of the deposited r-GO thin film from the stamp. Shear stress is introduced in a roll-to-roll printing system by rotating the stamp roller faster than the substrate roller. Energy-balance theory for thin film transfer is suggested to analyze the film delamination behavior with induced shear stress. Facile dry transfer of r-GO thin film onto flexible substrates is demonstrated in a roll-to-roll printing system at a printing rate of 5 mm/min with calculated shear stress of 325.43 kPa.