title: Elastic Properties of 4-6 nm-thick Glassy Carbon Thin Films.
abstract: Glassy carbon is a disordered, nanoporous form of carbon with superior thermal and chemical stability in extreme environments. Freestanding glassy carbon specimens with 4-6 nm thickness and 0.5 nm average pore size were synthesized and fabricated from polyfurfuryl alcohol precursors. Elastic properties of the specimens were measured in situ inside a scanning electron microscope using a custom-built micro-electro-mechanical system. The Young's modulus, fracture stress and strain values were measured to be about 62 GPa, 870 MPa and 1.3%, respectively; showing strong size effects compared to a modulus value of 30 GPa at the bulk scale. This size effect is explained on the basis of the increased significance of surface elastic properties at the nanometer length-scale.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haque