In a method of producing ultra-thin graphitic layers, a carbide crystal is placed into a graphitic enclosure. The carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are placed into a chamber. The carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are subjected to a predetermined environment. Once the predetermined environment is established, the carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are heated to a first temperature for a predetermined period of time sufficient to cause at least one non-carbon element to evaporate from a crystal face of the carbide crystal so as to form at least one graphitic layer on the crystal face of the carbide crystal.