There is a constant and ever-growing need for more practical and sustainable engineering practices as issues like climate change remain at the forefront of our society. This project intends to research the growth and quality of graphene output through a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) reactor under a variety of experimental conditions such as pressure, gas composition, and temperature. Graphene is used throughout the medical, industrial, and research fields where its production can require enormous amounts of energy for smaller and lower-quality yields. Our goal, by analyzing graphene’s properties, is to find the optimal growth conditions in order to minimize the material’s overall energy consumption, and therefore, environmental impact.

As part of SuperUROP, I’m honing in on a topic of interest that tries to find ideal ways to make our current processes more environmentally-friendly. The coursework I’ll take through my MechE concentration will focus on sustainability, so this project will provide a lot of relevant skills and knowledge to further develop as I consider future roles in research and environmental justice.