title: Softened elastic response and unzipping in chemical vapor deposition graphene membranes.
abstract: We use atomic force microscopy to image grain boundaries and ripples in graphene membranes obtained by chemical vapor deposition. Nanoindentation measurements reveal that out-of-plane ripples effectively soften graphene's in-plane stiffness. Furthermore, grain boundaries significantly decrease the breaking strength of these membranes. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that grain boundaries are especially weakening when subnanometer voids are present in the lattice. Finally, we demonstrate that two graphene membranes brought together form membranes with higher resistance to breaking.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
authors.forename: Carlos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Vargas
authors.forename: Houlong L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Pinshane Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Arend M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van der Zande
authors.forename: Shivank
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McEuen
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: Jiwoong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006108:Graphite