Elastic response of graphene nanodomes

ACS Nano. 2013 Apr 23;7(4):2927-34. doi: 10.1021/nn304473r. Epub 2013 Mar 26.

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of a periodically buckled graphene membrane has been investigated by noncontact atomic force microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum. When a graphene monolayer is grown on Ru(0001), a regular arrangement of 0.075 nm high nanodomes forming a honeycomb lattice with 3 nm periodicity forms spontaneously. This structure responds in a perfectly reversible way to relative normal displacements up to 0.12 nm. Indeed, the elasticity of the nanodomes is proven by realistic DFT calculations, with an estimated normal stiffness k∼40 N/m. Our observations extend previous results on macroscopic graphene samples and confirm that the elastic behavior of this material is maintained down to nanometer length scales, which is important for the development of new high-frequency (terahertz) electromechanical devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Elastic Modulus
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Graphite