| This thesis reports, for the first time, measurements of optical properties of graphene as a function of layer number up to 700 layers. Optical reflection, optical transmission and atomic force microscopy was performed on graphene exfoliated on glass. Universal optical conductance of graphene arising from π – π* interband transitions was used to identify and count up to 9 layer graphene samples with optical reflection microscopy alone. The optical properties of graphene are best described by refractive index of 1.88 – 1.59i at 550 nm up to 90 layers. For thicker graphene flakes, we present a model for calculating conductance due to σ – σ transitions. Incorporating both transitions, we find a refractive index of 2.70 – 1.11i at 550 nm, which shows good agreement to 250 – 700 layer graphene flakes. |
