Fig. 1: The process for preparing mirror-like graphite films.

a Schematic of the experimental configuration. b (T, t) profile for the preparation of mirror-like graphite films on Ni-Mo binary catalyst. c COMSOL modeling of the temperature distribution (°C) of the sample when the temperature of the crucible sidewall reaches 2250 °C. d Photographs of centimeter-scale mirror-like graphite films precipitated on the top surface of the Ni-Mo melt. e Schematic of the suggested reaction pathway. f Video-recorded images of the sample surface at different times of the (T, t) profile; this experiment was done without the crucible lid for video-recording of the graphite film growth and the sample surface temperatures were measured by a spectropyrometer. g Emissivity of the sample surface as a function of temperature. The inset is surface temperature as a function of time. The video in (f) and emissivity measurement in (g) were recorded simultaneously. It should be noted that in typical runs, a lid was placed on top of the crucible that led to better graphite film growths, but entirely impeded video-recording formation of the film.