Tearing graphene sheets from adhesive substrates produces tapered nanoribbons
Graphene is a truly two-dimensional atomic crystal with exceptional electronic and mechanical properties. Whereas conventional bulk and thin-film materials have been studied extensively, the key mechanical properties of graphene, such as tearing and cracking, remain unknown, partly due to its two-di...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Other Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley Blackwell,
2013-02-27T19:45:38Z.
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get fulltext |
Summary: | Graphene is a truly two-dimensional atomic crystal with exceptional electronic and mechanical properties. Whereas conventional bulk and thin-film materials have been studied extensively, the key mechanical properties of graphene, such as tearing and cracking, remain unknown, partly due to its two-dimensional nature and ultimate single-atom-layer thickness, which result in the breakdown of conventional material models. By combining first-principles ReaxFF molecular dynamics and experimental studies, a bottom-up investigation of the tearing of graphene sheets from adhesive substrates is reported, including the discovery of the formation of tapered graphene nanoribbons. Through a careful analysis of the underlying molecular rupture mechanisms, it is shown that the resulting nanoribbon geometry is controlled by both the graphene-substrate adhesion energy and by the number of torn graphene layers. By considering graphene as a model material for a broader class of two-dimensional atomic crystals, these results provide fundamental insights into the tearing and cracking mechanisms of highly confined nanomaterials. United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Grant HR0011-08-1-0067) United States. Army Research Office. (Grant W911NF-06-1-0291) |
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