Effect of defects on the intrinsic strength and stiffness of graphene.
It is important from a fundamental standpoint and for practical applications to understand how the mechanical properties of graphene are influenced by defects. Here we report that the two-dimensional elastic modulus of graphene is maintained even at a high density of sp(3)-type defects. Moreover, the breaking strength of defective graphene is only ~14% smaller than its pristine counterpart in the sp(3)-defect regime. By contrast, we report a significant drop in the mechanical properties of graphene in the vacancy-defect regime. We also provide a mapping between the Raman spectra of defective graphene and its mechanical properties. This provides a simple, yet non-destructive methodology to identify graphene samples that are still mechanically functional. By establishing a relationship between the type and density of defects and the mechanical properties of graphene, this work provides important basic information for the rational design of composites and other systems utilizing the high modulus and strength of graphene.
1] Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA [2].
Ardavan
A
Zandiatashbar
1] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea [3].
Gwan-Hyoung
GH
Lee
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.
Sung Joo
SJ
An
Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.
Sunwoo
S
Lee
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
Nithin
N
Mathew
1] Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA [2] Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA [3] Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
Mauricio
M
Terrones
Faculty of Engineering and Research Center for Exotic Nanocarbons, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano 380-8553, Japan.
Takuya
T
Hayashi
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
Catalin R
CR
Picu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.
James
J
Hone
1] Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
Nikhil
N
Koratkar